AANK13517U Political anthropology, advanced course, Rethinking Critical An-thropology

Critical theory has addressed questions of power and politics in society for over half a century. Yet critical thinking seems to be slowly transforming, as the social sciences are forced to reorient themselves to a changing world order. Wars, disasters and economic crises continuously change the ordering of politics and power. Migration, climate change and the digital revolution challenge the configuration of communities, networks and states worldwide. Now more than ever, a critical anthropology is needed to address these complex issues. None-the-less, many see critical anthropology as being in a state of crisis. Is critical anthropology in need of a revitalization? Has critique, as Bruno Latour asks, run out of steam?

In this course we will revisit and revitalize the idea of a critical anthropology. The course will revolve around three central themes: 1) How might a reconfigured critical anthropology resonate with the new forms of problems and issues that the populations of the world are facing? 2) How can the study of power and politics be reconceptualized so as to move from a focus on an oppressive ‘power-over’ to a focus on a productive ‘power-to’? 3) How can anthropology (re)claim a voice in public debates, and what would be the implications for the production and dissemination of ethnographic knowledge?

The course is intended to be exploratory and experimental. Students are expected to draw on their planned or conducted fieldwork for their portfolio assignments and final papers. The course ends with a student lab, a seminar where the students will present their papers, receive feedback, and where we in unison will construct a manifesto for a new critical anthropology.