In this course, students will learn about the history, theory, and practice of social justice. The course aims to provide a critical understanding of social justice as both a domain for theoretical research and applied practice. In the theoretical portion of the course, we will discuss the relationship between social justice and concepts like power, identity, emotion, systems thinking, and intersectional solidarity. In the applied part of the course, students will learn about the practice of community organizing, including identifying goals, targets, and tactics, as well as ethical principles for organizing. The goal of the course is for students to be able to articulate diverse concepts of social justice and apply these perspectives to analyze and address real-life issues.
Poslední úprava: Horáčková Karolína, Mgr. (16.08.2026)
Podmínky zakončení předmětu - angličtina
Attendance and active participation in class discussion (maximum 2 absences can be excused if you inform the teacher before the beginning of the class via email).
Preparation of campaign strategy chart on the social justice topic of choice. We will discuss the chart during the course and the professor will provide a template. This assignment may be completed in groups or alone.
Writing an acceptable research paper on a topic related to social justice. For BA students, the final paper must be 2,000 words excluding the bibliography. For MA students, the final paper must be 4,000 words excluding the bibliography.
Assessment
Attendance and Participation 30%
Strategy Chart 30%
Final Paper 40%
Poslední úprava: Hanson Emily Julia, Ph.D. (15.08.2025)
Sylabus - angličtina
1) Introduction
2) Social Justice History
Reading:Social Justice inTwentieth-Century Europe, Chapter 1, Social Justice: A Historical Introduction
3) Theories of Justice
Reading: Young, I. M. (2011). Justice and the Politics of Difference; Chapter 1
4) Power: What is it and who has it?
Readings: 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.
Power from a social justice practitioners’ perspective: Batliwala, S. All About Power: Understanding Social Power and Power Structures. It’sAll About Power: A Guide to Thinking Differently about Power for Solidarity in Social Change (Sheila McKechnie Foundation).
5) Affective Dynamics of Social Justice: Anger, Fear, Disgust, and Empathy
Readings:Ahmed, S. (2013).The cultural politics of emotion. Routledge. Chapter 2 and 3.
Lorde, A. (1997). The uses of anger.Women's Studies Quarterly,25(1/2), 278-285.
6) Intersectional and Postcolonial Theory in Organizing Practice
Reading: Spivak, G. C. (2023). Can the subaltern speak?. In Imperialism (pp. 171-219). Routledge.Note: Second reading will be discussed in class
7) Ownership of Time, Space, and “Normalcy”
Readings: Rose, J. L. (2019). Free time. Princeton University Press. Chapter 1.
Rost, M. (2021). “To normalize is to impose a requirement on an existence.” Why health professionals should think twice before using the term “normal” with patients. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 18(3), 389-394.
8) Organizing 101 and Power Mapping
Readings: Organising for Social Change: Midwest Academy Manual for Activists (Midwest Academy, Chapters 2-4.
A Guide to Power Analysis in Community Organising (National Academy of Community Organising).
Power Mapping for Social Justice (The United Way).
9) Tactics and Campaign Plans
Readings: Organising for Social Change: Midwest Academy Manual for Activists (Midwest Academy, Chapters 5-7.
Developing Strategic Campaigns: An ITF Manual for Trade Union Activists, Educators, and Organisers, Chapter 8: Tactics (International Transport Workers’ Federation).
10) Heroism: What can we expect?
11) Class presentation and discussion of Strategy Charts
12) Conclusions
Poslední úprava: Horáčková Karolína, Mgr. (16.08.2026)
