AANK12041U Political Anthropology, advanced course: Politics of Invisibility

Volume 2013/2014
Content

The politics of invisibility is focused on formations of power and powerlessness that are hidden from the public eye. Based on ongoing research on illicit flows of people, money and goods the course will shed light on some of the elements of social life that are confined to the shadows of society. It will look at concealed and clandestine figures and forces and grant us an overview of our theoretical and methodological possibilities of grasping them. Drawing on contemporary anthropological advances within the literature on politics, criminology and critical ethnography we will explore a range of subjects such as; social shadows, indeterminacy and suspicion and focus on various social flows and formations, such as; alternative political opposition, informal economies, criminal networks and undocumented migrants.

The different theoretical and empirical perspectives will be analytically engaged through an exploration of the concept of invisibility on three levels, i.e. structural, social, and existential, moving across scale within the realm of the political.

The course builds on the ongoing collaborative research project Invisible Lives and will combine research-based teaching and teaching-based research. Students will be given the possibility and supervision to draft an independent paper and present it at a student lab – an exploratory workshop with invited speakers.

Learning Outcome

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

1) identify and formulate anthropological questions within the field of invisible lives, illicit flows and/or shadow politics

2) summarize and critically discuss themes and empirical cases

3) reflect critically on central debates and recent theoretical advances on the issue

4) apply relevant analytical concepts in an analysis of an individually selected case

5) Incorporate central elements from the course into a presentation of an individual paper for the student lab. 

500 pages + 200 pages literature chosen by the student. The self-chosen literature must be relevant for the course.

Mandatory readings will be made available on the course website in Absalon. Students are expected to incorporate additional literature in individual research papers.

This course is a specialized course for MSc-students enrolled at the Dept. of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen.
Erasmus/exchange students who have a bachelor degree in Anthropology may also apply. Documentation is required.
The course combines lectures, discussions, group work, student presentations, film screenings, and student labs.
1 x 4 hours x 7 weeks
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Exercises
  • 8
  • Course Preparation
  • 112
  • Exam
  • 35
  • Guidance
  • 2
  • Lectures
  • 10
  • Seminar
  • 8
  • Study Groups
  • 35
  • Total
  • 210
Credit
10 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Obligatory portfolio assignments: The course lecturer determines the number and length of portfolio assignments. A minimum of 75% thereof will be assessed as the exam. At the end of the course, the lecturer will announce upon which portfolio assignments the assessment will be based.

The examination must address a relevant topic from the course and must include literature from the course syllabus.

The portfolio assignments can be written individually or in groups of
max. 4 people. Read more about the rules for group examinations in the
curriculum 4.3.1. The oral exam can only be done on an individual basis.
Exam registration requirements
To be eligible to take the course exam, the student must 1) participate actively in class throughout the course 2) present an independent paper at one of the student labs. 3) act as discussant on at least two presentations of fellow students’ papers.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
There is appointed a second internal assessor to assist with the assessment when the first assessor finds this necessary.
Re-exam
1. & 2. Re-exam
For written exams:
A new essay/portfolio with a revised problem statement is submitted at the announced date. The student must register for the re-exam.
For oral exams:
A revised synopsis with a new problem statement is submitted at the announced date. The students must hereafter participate in a new oral exam at the announced date. The student must register for the re-exam.
Criteria for exam assesment

The exam will be evaluated on the basis of aims for the course (see description of aims) .

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Obligatory portfolio assignments: The course lecturer determines the number and length of portfolio assignments. A minimum of 75% thereof will be assessed as the exam. At the end of the course, the lecturer will announce upon which portfolio assignments the assessment will be based.

The examination must address a relevant topic from the course and must include literature from the course syllabus.

The portfolio assignments can be written individually or in groups of
max. 4 people. Read more about the rules for group examinations in the
curriculum 4.3.1. The oral exam can only be done on an individual basis.
Exam registration requirements
To be eligible to take the course exam, the student must 1) participate actively in class throughout the course 2) present an independent paper at one of the student labs. 3) act as discussant on at least two presentations of fellow students’ papers.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
There is appointed a second internal assessor to assist with the assessment when the first assessor finds this necessary.
Re-exam
1. & 2. Re-exam
For written exams:
A new essay/portfolio with a revised problem statement is submitted at the announced date. The student must register for the re-exam.
For oral exams:
A revised synopsis with a new problem statement is submitted at the announced date. The students must hereafter participate in a new oral exam at the announced date. The student must register for the re-exam.
Criteria for exam assesment
See description of aims