AANK13508U Political Anthropology, advanced course: The Anthropology of Political movements

Volume 2013/2014
Content

Modern anthropology has been deeply implicated in the rise and visibility of ordinary people as a force in history – a commitment that marked a break with past perceptions of society and one that is not certain to last in a late capitalist phase of world history. This course in the anthropology of political movements continues to build on modern theoretical and ethical approaches. We will start by contextualizing political movements in time and space, developing an understanding of political movements as reflecting a particular historical juncture in world history and studying how we may understand political movements and identities in different parts of the world as particular, often divergent “moments” in a larger global process.

We then move on to study certain questions in the anthropology of political movements more in-depth: what is the relationship between “democracy” and political movements today? Is there something specific about urban political movements that calls for anthropologists’ attention? How can anthropologists provide insights into rural political movements and the way participants can shift in their political identification and performance between for instance “peasant” versus  “indigenous” interpretations of their struggle? 

We also pay attention to the study of political movements that are often more difficult for anthropologists to sympathize with by ethnographically exploring the recent rise of neo-nationalist movements in different parts of the world. The study of neo-nationalist movements prepares us, then, for a final, complex debate on the changing role of anthropologists vis-à-vis political movements today.

Learning Outcome

Students are expected to learn during this course to:

-Be able to anthropologically contextualize political movements in time and space

-Develop the skills to critically, ethnographically study the contradictions and trajectories of political movements

-Articulate an own standpoint regarding the dilemmas of anthropologists’ engagement with political movements

Literature

500 pages obligatory literature + 200 pages of literature chosen by students.

Course literature will be available in Absalon on the course website.

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.
This course will consist of short, interactive lectures as well as student-led debates and presentations, bringing students’ own projects in discussion with the literature. Student-led debates and presentations will be prepared well in advance and discussed shortly with the lecturer the class before the debate/presentation is held. Students will also be expected to do a number of short e-tivities and prepare questions regarding the readings to prepare for each class.
During the second class of the third week, students are expected to hand in a one-page outline, including a clear question/argument for the final essay they wish to write for this course. Students are also required to attach a literature list with at least 15 references.
Active participation in the classes, including satisfactory completion of the various class exercises, is required in order to be eligible to take the final exam consisting of a final essay to be handed in at the latest during the first class of the last week. Feedback will be given during the last class of the course.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Seminar
  • 21
  • Course Preparation
  • 164
  • Exam
  • 18
  • Lectures
  • 7
  • 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 essay/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
The student must participate actively in class, through for example class presentations, in order to be eligible to take the course exam. The course lecturer stipulates the specific requirements for active class participation.
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.
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 essay/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
The student must participate actively in class, through for example class presentations, in order to be eligible to take the course exam. The course lecturer stipulates the specific requirements for active class participation.
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.