Big ideas for better futures

It is said we live in a divided world faced with climate change, forced migration, economic upheaval, political polarisation, fake news, and an antibiotic apocalypse on the horizon. These challenges affect different groups unevenly, with dramatic consequences for some.

The future is not certain, but can it be ours to shape? How does our imagined future shape the present? What can we learn from social change movements in the past? What kinds of futures do we want, can we imagine, or are even possible? How do we navigate the social world to take action that will make a difference?

These are the sorts of questions that drive sociological inquiry. In this unit, we explore how societies in the past have engaged with major challenges, with a view to shedding light on the big ideas behind contemporary social movements in a diverse Australia.