ANT 387 - Seminars in Anthropology: Anthropology of the State

Is “the state” a useful concept? Or can the term “government” be used to replace it? Further if the state exists in some fashion, does it have any geographical or institutional fixity in the context of globalization? Or is its “coherence” only a matter of multiple and overlapping effects? What are the various sites, processes or practices through which anthropologists might investigate and document the state’s power ethnographically? Anthropologists have proposed looking at state power (and sovereignty) through the lens of policing and prisons; borders and immigration, law and legality, militarism and violence, modes of surveillance as well as bureaucracy, forms of education, and social welfare. We will explore the idea of the state and its pitfalls through these themes.

Readings for this seminar will be drawn from Trouillot, Scott, Taussig, Fassin, Bryant, Gupta, Seigal and Bornstein among others.

Satisfies Anthropology major and minor requirement.
Satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought requirement.
Satisfies Cultural Diversity requirement.