Anthropology

This course examines how Indigenous knowledge and ‘Western’ science work against, with or independent of each other and look at examples of how science contributes to Indigenous development. This international approach fosters cross-cultural communication skills, sharing of theory and practice, and comparative analysis of the situations of Indigenous peoples in global contexts.

This course presents the different ways in which 20th‑century anthropology has studied forms of political organization around the world. After establishing the universality of politics, anthropology has sought to examine societies’ relationships to the state—that is, the variability of cultural choices regarding the centralization or decentralization of power. The course also explores anthropology’s relationship to colonialism, neo‑colonialism, and post‑colonialism, from the late 19th century to the present day. In addition, it introduces a more materialist approach to politics, emphasizing the importance of the production and circulation of material wealth in the political organization of societies. The course concludes with an outlook toward further study, while highlighting how political anthropology is practiced in the 21st century.