Political Anthropology
Code: 107243 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Basics on Difference and Inequality, and History and Theory of Anthropology I.
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 politics while developing sensitivity to the situation and political position of other social groups and being aware of anthropological research's political and ethical implications.
Learning Outcomes
- CM14 (Competence) Evaluate ethnographic case studies from the classical fields of anthropology in relation to local, global and broader historical developments.
- KM13 (Knowledge) Recognise the main theoretical principles of the classical fields of anthropology for an understanding of societies and social systems.
- KM14 (Knowledge) Recognise the complexity of epistemological and methodological debates in the various classical fields of anthropology.
- KM15 (Knowledge) Recognise cultural diversity through ethnography and critically evaluate ethnographic materials as knowledge of local and global contexts and as proposals for theoretical models.
- KM16 (Knowledge) Apply the incidence of culture from a holistic perspective in the various institutional systems of social action studied by the classic fields of anthropology.
- KM17 (Knowledge) Recognise the main theoretical foundations of the classical fields of anthropology for the understanding of societies and social systems.
- SM18 (Skill) Synthesise knowledge of the transformations experienced in the different classical fields of study of anthropology.
- SM20 (Skill) Analyse ethnographical examples of cultural diversity and transcultural variability of economic, family, political, symbolic and cognitive systems and the anthropological theory that applies to them.
- SM21 (Skill) Use in a clear, explanatory and synthetic way the language of the theories of the classical fields in anthropology.
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 | CM14, KM13, KM14, KM15, KM17, SM20, SM21, CM14 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Individual or group tutorials, outings linked to the subject | 4 | 0.16 | KM14, KM15, KM17, SM18, SM21, KM14 |
| 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 | CM14, KM14, KM15, KM16, KM17, SM20, SM21, CM14 |
METHODOLOGY
The protagonist in the teaching-learning process is the student. It requires his/her active involvement in learning, the capacity for autonomous work, self-regulation in evaluative activities and responsibility in the entire process.
The work by the students consists of: active and participatory listening to the classroom; the research and analysis of complementary information; the realisation of deep reading of the texts; the realisation and implementation in terms of the work and comments; and critical and respectful participation in and outside classroom debates.
During the subject, the teacher's theoretical and practical presentations will be given in the classroom, which may include occasional invitations. It includes reading and discussing texts, watching documentaries and participating in class debates.
Personalised attention through individual or group tutorials will be in the teacher's office during the attention hours indicated on the first day of class and on the Virtual Campus.
The Virtual Campus (CV) is the official information space for the subject. It is the student's responsibility to enter the CV and have the email updated to be up to date with the news and/or information of the course.
Communication with the professor is carried out through the Virtual Campus email.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discussion seminar on required readings | 15 | 7 | 0.28 | CM14, KM13, KM14, KM15, KM16, KM17, SM18, SM20, SM21 |
| Individual examinations of all the content worked | 50 | 4 | 0.16 | CM14, KM13, KM14, KM15, KM17, SM18, SM20, SM21 |
| Participation in activities in and outside the classroom | 10 | 4 | 0.16 | CM14, KM13, KM14, KM15, KM17, SM18, SM20, SM21 |
| The elaboration of works | 25 | 7 | 0.28 | CM14, KM13, KM15, KM17, SM18, SM20, SM21 |
EVALUATION SYSTEM:
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 online or 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.
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.
- Assignment (25% of the final mark): Preparation of a work following the guidelines provided by the teacher at the beginning of the course.
- Reading Seminar (15% of the final mark): In-class discussion of required readings. Participation in the discussion and submission of the previously requested assignment related to the reading will be assessed in class that day.
- Participation (10% of the final mark. This module is not recoverable): carrying out practical activities (debates, watching videos, exercises...). Evidence of attendance and participation will be the written contributions derived from the activities carried out that day in or out of 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:
- Written exam (50% of the final grade): written exam covering all the content worked throughout the course (through lectures, readings and activities).You must pass the exam to make the average with the rest of the grades.
- Assignment (25% of the final grade): Completion of a work following the guidelines provided by the professor at the beginning of the course. A tutorial session with the professor at the beginning of the course is required to plan the assignment.
- Oral exam (20% final grade): linking the syllabus with all the compulsory readings.
Erasmus students who request to take an exam early must submit a written document from their home university to the professor justifying their request.
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 gradesfor each moduleaccording 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.
Those evaluations that have irregularities (copying, misuse of AI, etc.) are not recoverable.
CONDITIONS FOR THE "NON-ASSESSABLE” QUALIFICATION
Students will obtain a Not assessed/Not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 30% of the assessment items.
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 begiven a zero as the final grade for this subject.
This subject allows the use of AI technologies exclusively for support tasks such as text correction or translations. The student must clearly (i) identify which parts have been generated using AI technology; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and final outcome of the activity. Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in the assessed activity will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade may be lowered, or the work may even be awarded a zero. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.
Bibliography
RECOMMENDED HANDBOOKS:
BALANDIER,George (1969), Antropología Política, Ed. Península, Barcelona.
BALANDIER, George (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, John (2000), El poder y sus disfraces, Perspectivas antropológicas de la política, Edicions Bellaterra, Barcelona.
GONZÁLEZ ALCANTUD, José Antonio (1998), Antropología (y) política. Sobre la formación cultural del poder, Anthropos, Barcelona.
GRAEBER, David & WENGROW, David (2022), El Amanecer de todo : una nueva historia de la humanidad Barcelona: Ariel.
KRADER, Lawrence y ROSSI, Ino (1982), Antropología Política, Anagrama, Barcelona.
LEWELLEN, Ted C. (2010), Antropología Política, Edicions Bellaterra, Barcelona (edició revisada)
LLOBERA, José Ramón (ed.) (1979), Antropología Política, Anagrama, Barcelona.
LUQUE BAENA, Enrique (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.
VINCENT, Joan (1990), Anthropology and politics.Visions, traditions and trends, The University of Arizona Press, 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, Talal (1973), Anthropology and the colonial encounter, New York, Academic Press.
BALANDIER, George(1988), Modernidad y poder. El desvío antropológico, Júcar, Madrid.
BARTH, Fredik (comp.)(1976), Los Grupos Étnicos y sus Fronteras. La organización Social de las Diferencias Culturales. F.C.E., México.
BARNES, Barry (1995), La naturaleza del Poder, Pomares-Corredor, Barcelona.
BOURDIEU, Pierre (2000), La dominación masculina, Anagrama, Barcelona.
--- (1988) Cosas dichas, Gedisa, Barcelona.
CLASTRES, Pierre (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, Louis (1970): Homo Hierarchicus. Ensayo sobre el Sistema de Castas, Aguilar, Madrid.
--- (1987), Ensayos sobre el Individualismo. Alianza, Madrid.
EVANS-PRITCHARD, Edward Evan& FORTES, Meyer (1970[1040], African Political Systems, Oxford University Press.
FOUCAULT, Michael (1982), Vigilar y castigar, Siglo XXI, Madrid.
GELLNER,Ernst (1997), Antropología y Política. Revoluciones en el bosque sagrado, Gedisa editor,Barcelona.
GLUCKMAN, Max (1978), Política, Derecho y Ritual en la sociedad tribal, Akal, Madrid.
GONZALEZ ALCANTUD, José Antonio (1997), El clientelismo político : perspectivasocioantropològica, Anthropos, Barcelona
GRAEBER, David i SAHLINS Marshall (2017), On Kings, Chicago, IL USA: HAU Books,2017. Disponible en línia a la Biblioteca.
GRAEBER, David (2011), Fragmentos de antropología anarquista, Virus editorial, Madrid.
--- (2025), Posibilidades. Ensayos sobre jerarquía, rebelión y deseo, Edicions Bellaterra, Manresa.
HARRIS, Marvin (1978), Caníbales y Reyes. Los orígenes de las culturas. Argos Vergara, Barcelona.
HOBSBAWM, Eric J. & RANGER, Terence (1988), L’invent de la tradició, Eumo editorial, Barcelona.
LUHMANN, Niklas (1995), Poder, Anthropos, Barcelona
PUJADAS, Joan Josep (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, Marshall (1984), Las sociedades tribales, Labor, Barcelona.
SERVICE, Elman R. (1984), Los orígenes del Estado y de la civilización: elproceso de la evolución cultural, Alianza Ed., Madrid.
TERRAY, Emmanuel (1971), El marxismo ante las sociedades primitives, Losada, Buenos Aires.
TILLY, Charles (2009), Los Movimientos sociales,1768-2008: desde sus orígenes a Facebook. Crítica, Barcelona.
TURNER, Vitor (1980), La selva de los símbolos, Siglo XXI, Madrid.
WOLF, Eric R. (1987), Europa y la gentesin historia, Fondo de Cultura Económica, México.
Software
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |