Where is the Power in the Union? Survey of Social Movement and Union Power Theories

3.0 credits · Graduate

This course offers a survey of social movement and union power theories to explore why and how unions win. The course is built around four dominant theories from sociology and ILR: resource mobilization, the political process model, the power resource approach, and strategic capacity. Movements covered in this exploration will include: the civil rights movement, the women's movement, the United Farm Workers, the United Auto Workers, Justice for Janitors, and gig worker organizing, among others. In exploring the wide range of theories from sociology, political science, and labor relations in understanding social and labor movements this course seeks to historicize the current resurgence of union organizing through a comparison of a broad range of movement traditions.