Resistance Movements

Lesson Objectives:

  • describe collective agency
  • analyze a resistance movement using terms and concepts from the course

A resistance movement is comprised of a small or large group of individuals who organize together to oppose, or resist, a more broad structural condition such as politics, legal frameworks, religion, power, authority, distribution of wealth, etc.  In most cases, the resistance movement seeks to restructure the social order in a particular manner.

Discussion: Research and describe a contemporary or historical resistance movement (include a link to your sources). Be specific. For example, the American Revolution is too broad, but The Sons of Liberty is specific. Use the terms and concepts in the Structures and Agency modules to analyze the movement. What specific aspects of the structural order do/did members of the resistance movement aim to change? How do/did people collectively organize individual agency toward a common goal? How did/does pre-existing structures influence the agency of the individuals? (ie existing ideological structures regarding Liberty & Equality emerging in Europe informed the individual choices of each member of The Sons of Liberty to engage in acts of resistance to pursue liberty and equality against British feudalism in the American colonies).