Political Anthropology
Code: 101266 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2500256 Social and Cultural Anthropology | OB | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Maria Montserrat Clua Faine
- Email:
- montserrat.clua@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
This subject does not have prerequisites, but it is recommended that you have previously completed the subject Concepts in Anthropology, History of Anthropology I and History of Anthropology II.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The course aims for the student to understand the object of study of Political Anthropology and its specificity within social anthropology. It introduces the basic concepts linked to politics and power in all areas of social relations, the central issues and debates of the sub-discipline, and the theoretical and methodological paradigms constructed to answer them.
The subject starts from a historical, maximalist, and transcultural perspective of the concept of politics, including in a transversal and specific way the gender perspective. The content considers the relationship of politics with other areas of social life (economics, symbolism, ritual, legal anthropology, and interethnic situations). Also, the subject will offer ethnographic examples of different political forms in different cultures and historical moments.
At the end of the course, the student will know the different theoretical contributions and ethnographic examples of the forms that politics takes and will be able to apply this knowledge critically and responsibly to understand and reflect on phenomena and conflicts of the current political order. In terms of competencies, students will acquire a holistic and non-ethnocentric perspective of the political while developing sensitivity to the situation and political position of other social groups and being aware of anthropological research's political and ethical implications.
Competences
- Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
- Apprehending cultural diversity through ethnography and critically assessing ethnographic materials as knowledge of local contexts and as a proposal of theoretical models.
- Demonstrate skills for working autonomously or in teams to achieve the planned objectives including in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
- Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the history of anthropological theory and the genesis of its basic concepts.
- Take sex- or gender-based inequalities into consideration when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
- Using the discipline's ethnographic and theoretical corpus with analytical and synthesis skills.
Learning Outcomes
- Applying the basic concepts of the anthropological theory.
- Assessing critically the explicit and implicit theoretical models in the ethnographic materials.
- Effectively working in teams and respecting different opinions.
- Establishing historical connection between ethnographic and theoretical development.
- Explain the explicit or implicit code of practice of one's own area of knowledge.
- Identify the principal forms of sex- or gender-based inequality and discrimination present in society.
- Identifying the transcultural variability of economic, kinship, political, symbolic and cognitive, educational and gender systems as well as their corresponding anthropological theory.
- Interpreting the cultural diversity through ethnography.
- Knowing and understanding the culture's influence in the various institutional systems of social action.
- Summarising acquired knowledge about the origin and transformations experienced in the several fields of anthropology.
- Summarizing the characteristics of a written text in accordance to its communicative purposes.
- Theoretically analysing ethnographic examples of cultural diversity in the fields of kinship, economy, politics and religion.
Content
1. Introduction to Political Anthropology
2. The development of anthropological perspectives on power and politics
3. Typologies of political systems, forms of leadership and conflict resolution
4. Origins and forms of premodern State
5. Religion, ritual and symbolism in power relations
6. Structure and process - domination and resistances: the action of the individual in the political arena
7. Politics, identities and social inequalities in postmodern globalization
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Theoretical classes, discussion of texts, viewing of documentaries and debates | 50 | 2 | 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Individual or group tutorials, outings linked to the subject | 4 | 0.16 | 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Personal study, text reading, organization and analysis of annotations and diagrams of classes, virtual campus, writing of works, preparation of comments for debates, bibliographical search. | 74 | 2.96 | 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 12 |
METHODOLOGY
The protagonist in the teaching-learning process is the student. It requires active student involvement, the ability to work independently, self-regulation, and responsibility in the learning process.
The work by the students consists mainly of active and participatory listening in the classroom, the search and analysis of complementary information, the realization of the deep reading of the compulsory texts, the realization of the works and comments, and critical and respectful participation in guided debates.
During the course, the teacher will give theoretical and practical presentations, which may include occasional guest talks. It will consist of reading and discussing compulsory texts, viewing documentaries, and participating in class discussions.
Personal attention will be given to the student through individual or group tutorials in the teacher's office at the time indicated at the beginning of the course in class and in Virtual Campus.
The Virtual Campus (CV) is the official space of subject information. Students must regularly consult it to learn the latest information about the course.
The communication with the professor will be through the Virtual Campus mail. Students could use email to request an appointment if they cannot attend the office during the tutorial hours indicated by the teacher.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual examination of all the content worked | 50 | 2 | 0.08 | 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
| Participation in the classroom in the discussion of compulsory reading texts, viewings and debates | 20 | 14 | 0.56 | 1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| The elaboration of group work. | 30 | 6 | 0.24 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 |
EVALUATION SYSTEM:
CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT:
The evaluation of the subject is understood as a continuous and progressive process, which extends throughout the school period and develops from the performance of different evaluation activities:
- Written tests (50% of the final mark). There will be two partial exams on the content worked on throughout the course through the theoretical classes, readings and activities carried out. Each exam will count for 25% of the final grade, and you must pass them to make an average with the rest of the course grades.
- Groupal work (30% of the final mark): Preparation of a group word following the guidelines provided by the teacher at the beginning of the course.
- Participation in the classroom (20% of the final mark. This module is not recoverable): Discussion of mandatory reading texts and carrying out practical activities (debates, watching videos, exercises...). Both the participation in the discussion and the delivery on the day of the debate on the exercise that has been requested linked to the reading will be evaluated. Evidence of attendance and participation in the discussion will be the written contributions derived from the activities carried out that day in the classroom.
Suppose the student wants to do the continuous assessment but has justified reasons that do not allow them to attend the activities in the classroom regularly. In that case, they must notify the teacher at the beginning of the course to look for an alternative formula for assessing participation.
SINGLE ASSESSMENT:
- Exam (50% of the final grade. You must pass the exam to make the average with the rest of the grades): written exam on all the content worked on throughout the course (through the theoretical classes, readings and activities carried out ).
- Work (30% of the final grade): Preparation of group work following the guidelines provided by the teacher at the beginning of the course.
- Written reflection exercise linking the syllabus with all the compulsory readings (20% final grade).
EVALUATION SYSTEM OPERATION:
At the beginning of the course, the timetable will be given with the dates of delivery of the assignments, discussions of the compulsory readings and the dates of the exams. The list of mandatory readings will also be provided, which will be available in PDF format on the Virtual Campus.
When carrying out each assessment activity, the teacher will inform the students (in the classroom and via Virtual Campus) of the procedure and date of review of the qualifications.
RECOVERY PROCEDURE:
To be assessable for the subject, the student must have previously been assessed for the two exams and the assignment (CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT) or do the exam and deliver all the exercises (SINGLE ASSESSMENT).
To pass the subject, you must obtain a minimum final grade of 5, the result of the average of the grades for each module according to its percentage, but you must pass the two exams with a minimum grade of 5 to average the rest of the grades.
If the student is assessable but does not pass any of the exams or the work, he can recover them in the recovery period. Recovery will consist of an examination of the suspended part. Participation is non-refundable.
Suspended students meeting the assessment criteria and obtaining a minimum final grade average of 3.5 may opt for recovery.
In the case of a single assessment, the same recovery system will be applied for the continuous assessment.
CONDITIONS FOR THE "NON-ASSESSABLE” QUALIFICATION
The student will receive the "Not assessable" grade if he has not submitted the work or appeared for the two exams.
The absence or late delivery of assessment activities without a duly justified and accredited cause means that that activity will not be assessed. Evidence of evaluation that does not conform to the format standards of the guidelines and rubrics for completing the work will not be accepted.
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.
Bibliography
RECOMMENDED HANDBOOKS:
BALANDIER,G. (1969), Antropología Política, Ed. Península, Barcelona.
BALANDIER, G. (1994), El poder en escenas. De la representación del poder al poder de la representación, Paidos Studio, Barcelona.
CAÑEDO, Montserrat; MARQUINA, Aurora (eds.), (2011), Antropología Política. Temas contemporáneos, Edicions Bellaterra, Barcelona.
CAÑEDO, Montserrat (ed.) (2013), Cosmopolíticas. Perspectivas antropológicas, Madrid, Trotta.
GLEDHILL, J. (2000), El poder y sus disfraces, Perspectivas antropológicas de la política, Edicions Bellaterra, Barcelona.
GRAEBER, D. & WENGROW, D. (2022), El Amanecer de todo : una nueva historia de la humanidad Barcelona: Ariel.
GONZÁLEZ ALCANTUD, J. A.(1998), Antropología (y) política. Sobre la formación cultural del poder, Anthropos, Barcelona.
KRADER, L y ROSSI, I. (1982), Antropología Política, Anagrama, Barcelona.
LEWELLEN, T.C. (2010), Antropología Política, Edicions Bellaterra, Barcelona (edició revisada)
LLOBERA, J. (ed.) (1979), Antropología Política, Anagrama, Barcelona.
LUQUE BAENA, E. (1996), Antropología política. Ensayos críticos. Ariel Antropología, Barcelona.
MARQUINA ESPINOSA, Aurora (comp.) (2004), El ayer y el Hoy. Lecturas de Antropología Política. Vol. I y II. UNED, Madrid. Disponible versió digital a la Biblioteca.
PÉREZ GALÁN, Beatriz y MARQUINA ESPINOSA, Aurora (eds.) (2011), Antropología Política. Textos teóricos y etnográficos, Edicions Bellaterra, Barcelona.
TROUILLOT, Michel-Rolph (2017), Silenciando el pasado : el poder y la producción de la historia, Granada: Comares.
VINCENT, Joan (1990), Anthropology and politics. Visions, traditions and trends, TheUniversity of ArizonaPress, Tucson and London.
VINCENT, Joan (ed.) (2002) The anthropology of Politics. A reader in ethnography, Theory and Critique, Blackwell, Londres.
FUNDAMENTAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
ARENDT, Hannah (1997), ¿Qué es la política?, Paidós, Barcelona
ASAD, T. (1973), Anthropology and the colonial encounter, New York, Academic Press.
BALANDIER, G.(1988), Modernidad y poder. El desvío antropológico, Júcar, Madrid.
BARTH, F. (comp.)(1976), Los Grupos Étnicos y sus Fronteras. La organización Social de las Diferencias Culturales. F.C.E., México.
BARNES, B. (1995), La naturaleza del Poder, Pomares-Corredor, Barcelona.
BOURDIEU, P. (2000), La dominación masculina, Anagrama, Barcelona.
--- (1988) Cosas dichas, Gedisa, Barcelona.
CLASTRES, P. (1996), Investigaciones en antropología política, Gedisa, Barcelona.
--- (1978): La Sociedad Contra el Estado, Monte Ávila, Barcelona.
DOUGLAS, Mary (1996), Cómo piensan las Instituciones, Alianza Universidad, Madrid.
DUMONT, L. (1970): Homo Hierarchicus. Ensayo sobre el Sistema de Castas, Aguilar, Madrid.
--- (1987), Ensayos sobre el Individualismo. Alianza, Madrid.
EVANS-PRITCHARD, E.E. & FORTES, M. (1970[1040], African Political Systems, Oxford University Press.
FOUCAULT, M. (1982), Vigilar y castigar, Siglo XXI, Madrid.
GELLNER, E. (1997), Antropología y Política. Revoluciones en el bosque sagrado, Gedisa editor, Barcelona.
GLUCKMAN, M. (1978), Política, Derecho y Ritual en la sociedad tribal, Akal, Madrid.
GONZALEZ ALCANTUD, J.A. (1997), El clientelismo político : perspectiva socioantropològica, Anthropos, Barcelona
GRAEBER, D. i SAHLINS M. (2017), On Kings, Chicago, IL USA: HAU Books.
GRAEBER, D. (2011), Fragmentos de antropología anarquista, Virus editorial, Madrid.
GRAMSCI, A. (2013), Antología. Selección, traducción y notas de Manuel Sacristán, Madrid: Akal.
HARRIS, M. (1978), Caníbales y Reyes. Los orígenes de las culturas. Argos Vergara, Barcelona.
HOBSBAWM, E.J. & RANGER, T. (1988), L’invent de la tradició, Eumo editorial, Barcelona.
LUHMANN, N.(1995), Poder, Anthropos, Barcelona.
PUJADAS, J.J. (1993), Etnicidad: identidad cultural de los pueblos, Eudema, Madrid.
ROSS, Marc Howard (1995), La cultura del conflicto: las diferencias interculturales en la practica de la violència, Paidós, Barcelona.
SAHLINS, M. (1984), Las sociedades tribales, Labor, Barcelona.
SERVICE, E.R. (1984), Los orígenes del Estado y de la civilización: el proceso de la evolución cultural, Alianza Ed., Madrid.
TERRAY, E. (1971), El marxismo ante las sociedades primitives, Losada, Buenos Aires.
TILLY, C. (2009), Los Movimientos sociales,1768-2008: desde sus orígenes a Facebook. Crítica, Barcelona.
TURNER, V. (1980), La selva de los símbolos, Siglo XXI, Madrid.
WOLF, E.R.(1987), Europa y la gente sin historia, Fondo de Cultura Económica, México.
Software
Language list
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |