This seminar discusses the functions of discourse and persuasion in social movements, interest groups, NGOs, and collective protest activity of all sorts and kinds. It explores a variety of theoretical approaches that had been used in recent generations to describe and conceptualize the rhetoric of social discontent, resistance, social criticism, and the collective call for political reform or social change. Among others, the seminar will address various issues such as: the argumentative structure of social demands, the formation of public and collective identities in social movements, the role of emotions in social campaigns. We shall also discuss stylistic aspects and linguistics dimensions of genre and textual forms associated to social protest, such as manifests and petition, slogans and graffiti. The seminal will examine, in addition, the rhetorical dimension of symbolic behavior and direct action such as public provocation and moral shock, occupation of buildings and sit-ins, marches and street blocking, performance and “artivism”. The students will be required to select and present a relevant case study and to conduct an independent research and analysis.