AN2106 - Anthropology of Violence: The State, Politics and Citizens

Violence, its forms and controls, is fundamental to human social existence and is central to theories regarding the nature of society, citizenship and the state. The anthropology of violence addresses these points from a comparative cross-cultural perspective. Emphasis is given to the situational nature of violence and human conflict with case studies of warfare, political memory, state-based violence, struggles for democracy and liberation, sexual violence, genocide and ethnic conflict.

Learning Outcomes

• analyse the relationship between violence, culture and human nature;
• examine and discuss cross-cultural approaches to violence, and explore in depth at least one major anthropological study of violence;
• analyse and evaluate the importance of violence in modern social theory and its significance in state politics;
• demonstrate an awareness of the importance of social struggle for the recognition of rights and citizenship.

Subject Assessment

• Written > Test/Quiz 1 - (40%) - Individual
• Participation > Class participation - (20%) - Individual
• Written > Essay (including multi-draft) 1 - (40%) - Individual.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.