Undergraduate Course: Contentious Politics (PLIT10190)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course examines rising political contention and protest in contemporary politics. It introduces students to core theories and concepts on social movements and contentious politics, including why people mobilise outside formal political institutions, how activists choose protest tactics, and how states respond to civil disobedience. It explores these queries through contemporary case studies of contentious issues, such as abortion, immigration, and the environment. The course equips students with analytical tools to critically assess evolving political landscapes, and reflect on what it means for questions of power, legitimacy, democracy, and social change. |
| Course description |
This advanced course predominately focuses on contentious politics in the United Kingdom (UK), while incorporating comparative perspectives from across Europe and beyond. It examines different forms of contentious politics, including strikes, protests, demonstrations, and social movement mobilisation, and assesses their effects on political processes and policymaking. The course addresses key questions, including: how can we make sense of rising public contention? Why do individuals and groups engage in collective action? How do states respond to evolving forms of protest? And what do these modes of action reveal about power, representation, and legitimacy in contemporary politics?
This course critically explores the dynamics of contentious politics in the UK, examining how such struggles emerge, evolve, and shape public policy. The course explores how actors outside of formal political institutions seek to shape policy agendas, challenge power and authority, and drive (or block) policy change. It places these struggles in conversation with developments and mobilisations occurring outside of the UK, acknowledging the transnational dimensions of social movements and political debates.
The course is divided into three sections. The first introduces students to core theories, concepts, and debates in the study of contentious politics, including resource mobilisation theory, political opportunity structures, and repertoires of contention. The second examines the UK¿s evolving political landscape, exploring declining trust in politicians and political institutions, evolving protest tactics, and government responses. The final section delves into contemporary cases of contentious politics and policymaking, such as abortion, immigration, and the environment. Through these case studies, students will critically assess how contentious issues emerge, how movements and counter-movements mobilise, and how the state, parties, media, and civil society engage in these struggles.
By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the analytical tools to critically assess the nature, causes, and consequences of contentious politics, and reflect on its implications for democracy and social change in the twenty-first century.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least four Politics/IR courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). Only university/college level courses will be considered |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand key concepts, theories and debates on contentious politics, and apply them to contemporary UK politics
- Assess the evolving political landscape in the UK, including trends in mobilisation, polarisation, and public trust
- Critically evaluate contemporary case studies of contentious politics and policymaking in the UK and beyond
- Examine state and institutional responses to disruptive protest and collective action
- Formulate evidence-based arguments on current political issues in the UK
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Reading List
Tilly, C. and Tarrow, S. (2015) Contentious Politics, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
McAdam, D., Tarrow, S., & Tilly, C. (2001). Dynamics of Contention. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Tarrow, S. (2022). Power in Movement: Social Movements and Contentious Politics. 4th ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Doherty, B. (2010) 'Protest', in M. Flinders, A. Gamble, C. Hay, M. Kenny (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of British Politics, pp. 719-734
Convery, A. (ed) (2025) UK Politics, London: Sage |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
create, identify and evaluate options in order to solve complex problems.
analyse, synthesise, critically and methodically appraise thoughts to break down complex problems into manageable components.
capability to evaluate information thoroughly; identifying assumptions, detecting false logic or reasoning and defining terms accurately in order to make an informed judgement.
recognise and address ethical dilemmas, social responsibility and sustainability issues, applying ethical and their own/organisational values to situations and choices
be critically self-aware, self-reflective and self-manage in order to fully maximise potential
to think independently, exercise personal judgment and take initiatives
collaborating and debating effectively to test, modify and strengthen one's own views
develop oral communication of complex ideas and arguments using a range of media
have the ability to produce clear, structured written work |
| Keywords | contentious politics,protest,social movement,political polarisation,UK politics |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Leah McCabe
Tel:
Email: Leah.McCabe@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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