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.
At the end of the course, students should be able to: 1) identify and formulate theoretical and analytical questions concerning critique in the social sciences 2) summarize and critically discuss themes and empirical cases related to critical anthropology 3) reflect critically on the role of anthropology in public debates 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 obligatory literature + 200 pages of literature chosen by students
Literature chosen by students must be relevant to the course’s subject matter.
Course literature will be available in Absalon on the course website
Plenum discussions
Student presentations
Group work
- Category
- Hours
- Course Preparation
- 85
- Exam
- 10
- Exam Preparation
- 20
- Seminar
- 21
- Study Groups
- 70
- Total
- 206
International-, credit and Open University students; read about
application here:
International
students/Credit
students/
Open University
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- PortfolioObligatory 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.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
- Re-exam
1. re-exam:
A new essay with a revised problem statement must be submitted at the announced date. The students are automatically registered for the 1. re-exam. Please note that the re-exam is an essay even for courses, where the ordinary exam is a portfolio exam.
2. re-exam:
A new essay with a revised problem statement must be submitted at the announced date next semester. The students must sign up for the 2. re-exam.
Criteria for exam assesment
See learning outcome
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- AANK13517U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree MasterFull Degree Master choice
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Spring And Block 3
- Schedule
- See timetable
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Department of Anthropology, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Anthropology
Course responsibles
- Kristoffer Albris (17-747b727c7d786f6f6e7b376a756b7b727c497c786d6a7c37747e376d74)
- Henrik Erdman Vigh (2-6e7c4667747a6e787534717b346a71)
Lecturers
Henrik Vigh
Kristoffer Albris