Community Activism
one-way Exclusions
Lecture, tutorial, and private study
Please note that course information listed in the Arts and Science Course Calendar supersedes any information listed on the Global Development Studies website.
For the most current course offerings, registered Queen鈥檚 students should consult .
Course Description
Community Activism explores the theory and practice of social change through historical and contemporary case studies. Students examine community-level and grassroots activism, insurgencies, and counterinsurgency using a four-pronged approach: research, community education, direct action, and legal action. The course analyzes strategies, tactics, and outcomes of campaigns, and prepares students to critically engage with activism, policy, and collective action in democratic contexts.
Learning Outcomes
- Distinguish personal conviction from scholarly analysis when engaging with activism as a field of study.
- Evaluate and classify diverse forms of activism through the application of comprehensive typologies and measurable performativity analysis.
- Apply and assess advanced analytical methodological tools such as Historical Dynamics and Agent-Based Modeling to investigate activist strategies in complex socio-political environments.
- Interrogate and critique the intent, design, and outcomes of strategic tactics employed in campaigns for social change.
- Reflect on and evaluate their own positionality, leadership practices, and contributions in collective activist contexts.
- Critically examine counterinsurgency strategies in relation to activism, evaluating their political, legal, and ethical dimension.
- Synthesize theoretical insights with experiential learning, producing research-informed perspective on challenges and possibilities of activism in a diverse collective environment.