Course info
ANTH RRG: Anthropology of/in/and International Relations
In the words of Hylland Eriksen, anthropology has historically limited its
scope to “small places”. In a world of global issues, this becomes
untenable. On the other hand, International Relations, in its pursuit of a
parsimonious systematic theory, has for long disregarded the complexities
of local social phenomena. This RRG will look at the potential points of
convergence and divergence between anthropology and International Relations
(IR). By critically addressing the fortes and blind points of both
disciplines, we will inquire about the ways in which anthropology can
inform contemporary issues in IR and security studies, as well as the
horizons that IR theory can open in anthropological practice. Some of the
topics that will be discussed in light of this transdisciplinary approach
will be the evolution of war, revolutions, nationalism, critical terrorism
studies, (in)security, feminist and queer theory, postcolonialism and race,
borders and boundaries, climate change, and development studies. We will
meet fortnightly to discuss between two and four readings on each week’s
topic, and how they inform, challenge or destabilise underpinning
assumptions in Anthropology and IR.