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Social Movements & Protests: Theory and South Asian Practice

Reading list

Every reading this course assigns, module by module, with the best free copy we could find.

62 readings48 free to read7 on request7 books

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Module 1. Module 1: What Is a Social Movement?

  1. Tarrow, S. (2022). Power in Movement: Social Movements and Contentious Politics, 4th edition. Cambridge University Press.Publisher pageBook
  2. Sharp, G. (2010). From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Conceptual Framework for Liberation, 4th US edition. Albert Einstein Institution. First published Bangkok, 1993.Read it free
  3. Al Jazeera (2022, 9 July). Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down. Al Jazeera.Read it free

Module 2. Module 2: Why Movements Emerge

  1. Olson, M. (1965). The Logic of Collective Action: Public Goods and the Theory of Groups. Harvard University Press.Publisher pageBook
  2. McCarthy, J. D. and Zald, M. N. (1977). Resource Mobilization and Social Movements: A Partial Theory. American Journal of Sociology, 82(6), 1212-1241.Publisher pageSubscription
  3. Tarrow, S. (2022). Power in Movement: Social Movements and Contentious Politics, 4th edition. Cambridge University Press.Publisher pageBook
  4. Bozhinova, K., Satre, J. and Rajagopal, S. (2021, 17 December). An Unlikely Success: Demonstrations Against Farm Laws in India. ACLED.Read it free
  5. DTE Staff (2021, 19 November). Farm laws repeal: How the farmers' protests unfolded in a year. Down To Earth.Read it free

Module 3. Module 3: Framing & Collective Identity

  1. Benford, R. D. and Snow, D. A. (2000). Framing Processes and Social Movements: An Overview and Assessment. Annual Review of Sociology, 26, 611-639.Publisher pageSubscription
  2. Snow, D. A., Rochford, E. B., Worden, S. K. and Benford, R. D. (1986). Frame Alignment Processes, Micromobilization, and Movement Participation. American Sociological Review, 51(4), 464-481.Publisher pageSubscription
  3. Polletta, F. and Jasper, J. M. (2001). Collective Identity and Social Movements. Annual Review of Sociology, 27, 283-305.Publisher pageSubscription
  4. Kuchay, B. (2020, 15 January). Shaheen Bagh protesters pledge to fight, seek rollback of CAA law. Al Jazeera.Read it free
  5. Wikipedia contributors (n.d.). Self-Respect Movement. Wikipedia.Read it free
  6. Right Livelihood (n.d.). Narmada Bachao Andolan / Medha Patkar, Baba Amte. Right Livelihood Award laureate profile (1991).Read it free

Module 4. Module 4: Repertoires of Contention

  1. Tilly, C. (1995). Popular Contention in Great Britain, 1758-1834. Harvard University Press.Publisher pageBook
  2. Tilly, C. (2006). Regimes and Repertoires. University of Chicago Press.Publisher pageBook
  3. della Porta, D. (2013). Repertoires of Contention. In Snow, D. A., della Porta, D., Klandermans, B. and McAdam, D. (eds), The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social and Political Movements. Wiley-Blackwell.Publisher pageSubscription
  4. Sharp, G. (1973). The Methods of Nonviolent Action (the 198 methods), from The Politics of Nonviolent Action, Part Two. Albert Einstein Institution.Read it free
  5. Wikipedia contributors (n.d.). Repertoire of contention. Wikipedia.Read it free

Module 5. Module 5: Nonviolent Resistance & People Power

  1. Sharp, G. (2010). From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Conceptual Framework for Liberation, 4th US edition. Albert Einstein Institution. First published Bangkok, 1993.Read it free
  2. Sharp, G. (1973). The Methods of Nonviolent Action (the 198 methods), from The Politics of Nonviolent Action, Part Two. Albert Einstein Institution.Read it free
  3. Chenoweth, E. and Stephan, M. J. (2011). Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict. Columbia University Press.Publisher pageBook
  4. Delaney, N. (2025). The 3.5% rule: Understanding what makes protest powerful. Harvard Kennedy School Magazine, Fall 2025.Read it free

Module 6. Module 6: Gandhi & the Freedom Struggle as a Movement

  1. Gandhi, M. K. (1930, 2 March). Letter to Lord Irwin, Viceroy of India. In The Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Selected Letters. Navajivan Publishing House.Read it free
  2. Wikipedia contributors (n.d.). Salt March. Wikipedia.Read it free
  3. Wikipedia contributors (n.d.). Quit India speech. Wikipedia.Read it free
  4. Gandhi, M. K. (1968). The Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, ed. S. Narayan. Navajivan Publishing House.Read it free

Module 7. Module 7: Environmental & Land Movements in South Asia

  1. Guha, R. (2008, 27 March). The Rise and Fall of Indian Environmentalism. Hindustan Times.Read it free
  2. Gadgil, M. and Guha, R. (1995). Ecology and Equity: The Use and Abuse of Nature in Contemporary India. Routledge and Penguin India.Publisher pageBook
  3. Sharma, K. (2023, 19 April). Niyamgiri: 10 years since India's first environmental referendum. Down To Earth.Read it free
  4. Supreme Court of India (2000). Narmada Bachao Andolan v. Union of India, judgment of 18 October 2000, (2000) 10 SCC 664.Read it free
  5. Tandon, A. (2025, 21 March). The movement that rewrote India's environmental narrative [commentary]. Mongabay India.Read it free

Module 8. Module 8: Caste, Dalit & Adivasi Assertion

  1. Ambedkar, B. R. (1936). Annihilation of Caste. Bombay: self-published (1945 edition with A Reply to Mahatma Gandhi, Digital Library of India copy).Read it free
  2. Wikipedia contributors (n.d.). Dalit Panthers. Wikipedia.Read it free
  3. Wikipedia contributors (n.d.). Rohith Vemula. Wikipedia.Read it free
  4. Wikipedia contributors (n.d.). Bhim Army. Wikipedia.Read it free

Module 9. Module 9: Farmers’ & Workers’ Movements

  1. Frayer, L. (2021, 26 November). Caving to protests, Modi nixes his farm laws. What's next for India's farmers? NPR.Read it free
  2. Wikipedia contributors (n.d.). 2020-2021 Indian farmers' protest. Wikipedia.Read it free
  3. Wikipedia contributors (n.d.). Naxalbari uprising. Wikipedia.Read it free
  4. Wikipedia contributors (n.d.). All India Kisan Sabha. Wikipedia.Read it free
  5. Wikipedia contributors (n.d.). All India Trade Union Congress. Wikipedia.Read it free

Module 10. Module 10: Feminist & Gender Movements

  1. Baxi, U., Dhagamwar, V., Kelkar, R. and Sarkar, L. (1979). Open Letter to the Chief Justice of India regarding the Mathura rape case, September 1979. Feminist Law Archives.Read it free
  2. PRS Legislative Research (2013). Justice Verma Committee Report Summary. PRS India.Read it free
  3. Kidwai, A., Menon, N., Krishnan, K. and others (2017, 24 October). Statement by feminists on Facebook campaign to "Name and Shame". Kafila.Read it free
  4. Human Dignity Trust (2019). Navtej Singh Johar & Ors. v. Union of India (2018): Case Digest. Human Dignity Trust.Read it free
  5. Wikipedia contributors (n.d.). Aurat March. Wikipedia.Read it free

Module 11. Module 11: Digital & Networked Activism

  1. Bennett, W. L. and Segerberg, A. (2012). The Logic of Connective Action: Digital Media and the Personalization of Contentious Politics. Information, Communication and Society, 15(5), 739-768.Publisher pageSubscription
  2. Khilji, U. (2026, 24 March). Gen Z Protests Across Asia Offer a Delicate but Renewed Democratic Order. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.Read it free
  3. Sharma, Y. (2026, 19 July). Why have India's Gen Z protesters called for a march to parliament? Al Jazeera.Read it free
  4. Pandya, P. (2026, 3 June). Economic shockwaves from the Iran war fuel protests across South Asia. ACLED.Read it free
  5. Access Now (2025, 24 February). Worst year on record: internet shutdowns in 2024. Access Now / #KeepItOn.Read it free

Module 12. Module 12: Repression, Backlash & Movement Outcomes

  1. Sharp, G. (1993). From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Conceptual Framework for Liberation. Bangkok: Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Burma. 4th US edition, Albert Einstein Institution, 2010.Read it free
  2. Martin, B. (2015). From political jiu-jitsu to the backfire dynamic: how repression can promote mobilization. In Schock, K. (ed.), Civil Resistance: Comparative Perspectives on Nonviolent Struggle. University of Minnesota Press, pp. 145-167.Read it free
  3. Taylor, V. (1989). Social Movement Continuity: The Women's Movement in Abeyance. American Sociological Review, 54(5), 761-775.Publisher pageSubscription
  4. The Wire Staff (2025, 3 December). Over 10,000 Persons Arrested Under UAPA But Only 335 Convictions Between 2019-23. The Wire.Read it free
  5. Associated Press (2021, 19 November). India will repeal controversial farm laws that led to massive protests. NPR.Read it free

Module 13. Module 13: Movements Across South Asia: Now

  1. Khilji, U. (2026, 24 March). Gen Z Protests Across Asia Offer a Delicate but Renewed Democratic Order. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.Read it free
  2. Pandya, P. (2026, 3 June). Economic shockwaves from the Iran war fuel protests across South Asia. ACLED.Read it free
  3. Keenan, A. (2022, 18 July). Sri Lanka's Uprising Forces Out a President but Leaves System in Crisis. International Crisis Group (Q&A), reposted on ReliefWeb.Read it free
  4. Human Rights Watch (2024, 6 August). Bangladesh: Prime Minister Hasina Resigns amid Mass Protests. Human Rights Watch.Read it free
  5. Sharma, Y. (2026, 19 July). Why have India's Gen Z protesters called for a march to parliament? Al Jazeera.Read it free
  6. Chenoweth, E. and Cebul, M. (2026). Why Gen-Z Is Rising. Journal of Democracy, 37(1), 5-14.Read it free

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