Class Network Activism

This course exists at the intersection of Media Studies and Communication Sciences, Political Theory, and the Sociology of Social Movements. Its main objective is to examine the transformations brought about by Information Technologies in the expansion of social and political participation in contemporary societies. Through this course, the aim is to address various examples of how the definition of politics has evolved and the material and symbolic conditions behind these transformations. In the context of the undergraduate program, this course allows students to explore how Communication Sciences are fundamental to understanding the most recent historical and technological developments.

Not applicable

Network society: definitions and dynamics The emergence of new political actors in the network society Activism and social movements: definitions and issues Data and algorithms – possibilities and problems Online and on the street – connections between digital and physical spaces Hashtag activism – The transnational case of #MeToo Activisms outside the Global North ‘Anti-activism’ – regressive movements and the manosphere Subactivism and other forms of (in)visible action

- Joint and deferred analysis of case studies. - Inviting various speakers to address some of the topics and practical cases discussed in class. - Exercises in planning digital activism. - Use of innovative tools for data capture and analysis.

Castells, M. (2010). The rise of the network society (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. D’Ignazio, C., & Klein, L. F. (2020). Data feminism. The MIT Press. Della Porta, D., & Diani, M. (2006). Social movements: An introduction (2nd ed). Blackwell Publishing. Jackson, S. J., Bailey, M., & Welles, B. F. (2020). #HashtagActivism: Networks of race and gender justice. MIT press. Lupa¿, P. (2018). Beyond the digital divide: Contextualizing the information society (First edition). Emerald Publishing. Özkula, S. M., Reilly, P. J., & Hayes, J. (2023). Easy data, same old platforms? A systematic review of digital activism methodologies. Information, Communication & Society, 26(7), 1470–1489. Plummer, K. (1995). Telling Sexual Stories: Power, Change and Social Worlds. Routledge. Schradie, J. (2019). The revolution that wasn’t: How digital activism favors conservatives. Harvard University Press.