Main course page

  • Power and Social Change

     
    eL This course is for students interested in how power is exercised by people, organizations, and the state to bring about social change. The course combines theoretical insights with practical examples and discussions to help students understand power and social change and give them tools they can apply in projects, organizations, and their everyday lives. It features classical as well as critical approaches on power, politics, policy, social movements, and organization to provide students with a more holistic understanding of the possibilities, promises, and challenges of social change.
                                            

    EMAIL

    samantha.ortiz@novasbe.pt

    TA: maximilian.hauser@novasbe.pt

    OFFICE HOURS

    By appointment
        •  Course ENROLMENT key:  2025P

    • Please be reminded that all required readings must be completed before class. These readings have been uploaded to the designated folders or provided via direct links. Ensure you review the instructions for each reading carefully, as sometimes only a specific chapter or set of pages is required, rather than the entire document.

      We strongly encourage you to explore the extra readings as well. You can access these additional readings online or through the Nova SBE Library webpage: http://library.novasbe.unl.pt/.

      Thank you for your dedication and preparation!


10 February - 16 February►

3 February - 9 February

  • 3 February - 9 February

       Readings and work for this week:

    Session 1: Introduction to Power and Social Change

    In this first session we will get to know each other, discuss course requirements and set mutual expectations for the term. We will also discuss key ideas for the course: what is power? How does power work? What is social change and how does it happen? We will end the session by forming teams for the group assignment.

     

    Required readings:

    -       Hays, S. (1994). Structure and agency and the sticky problem of culture. Sociological theory, 57-72.

    -       Avelino, F. (2021). Theories of power and social change. Power contestations and their implications for research on social change and innovation. Journal of Political Power, 14(3), 425-448.

     

    Recommended readings:

    -       Bachrach, P., & Baratz, M. S. (1962). Two Faces of Power. American Political Science Review, 56(4), 947-952.

    -       Crozier, M. (1973). The problem of power. Social research, 211-228.

    -       Foucault, M. (1978). The history of sexuality. Volume 1: An introduction. New York: Pantheon Books. Pp. 92-102 (“Method”).

    -       Sewell Jr, W. H. (1992). A theory of structure: Duality, agency, and transformation. American journal of sociology, 98(1), 1-29.

    -       Butler, J. (1997). The Psychic life of power: Theories in subjection. Standford UP.

10 February - 16 February►