ANT 280 - Special Topics in Anthropology: Crime, Criminalization, and Capitalism

What counts as a crime? Who decides? What kind of effects does criminalization have on targeted peoples and the broader society? This course examines criminalization as an elaboration of racial capitalism. The course explores this through the experiences of illegalized peoples and communities, the ways criminalization is wielded and practiced by state actors, and the role criminalization plays in processes of accumulation, domination, and exploitation. Students can expect to address these matters by analyzing issues related to “illegal” immigration, vigilantism and “looting,” drug wars, piracy, informal (unregulated) economies, policing, and organized crime.

Satisfies the cultural diversity requirement

Satisfies the social-scientific thought requirement