This interactive activity is designed for AQA A Level Sociology: Beliefs in Society. It fits the part of the specification that covers the relationship between social change and social stability, and religious beliefs, practices and organisations, so it works well for revision of debates about whether religion mainly supports the status quo or helps create change. Beliefs in Society is assessed as part of Paper 2: Topics in Sociology.
Students build a network linking clergy, poor communities, activists, protest movements, political elites, state institutions and media to test whether a religious movement is acting more as hegemony or counter-hegemony. The activity is especially useful for applying ideas such as Gramsci’s hegemony, organic intellectuals, and liberation theology in a more concrete and visual way.
Organic Intellectuals Network Board
Build a religious network and test whether it mainly supports hegemony or counter-hegemony.
Choose the main religious message
Build the network
Select the people, groups and institutions most closely linked to the movement.
Network result
Build the network, then click Analyse network.
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