Public debates across the world warn of democratic decline and the rise of authoritarian rule. Across the world many fight for democracy. But does 'power' and democracy look the same all over the world? When and how did 'the people' become a legitimate source of political power? Why are there still kings, aristocrats and other forms of inherited offices? What is the difference between states, nations and governments? What are the sources of political identity - religion, ethnicity, race, experiences of marginality? Which passions animate political life in different parts of the world? These are some of the many foundational questions that anthropologist and other social scientists have grappled with for more than a century. Early anthropologists studied ritual, kingship, rebellions, magic and trade in small scale societies across the world. In the past many decades, anthropologist have studied modern institutions (such as bureaucracies or prisons) modern political rituals (elections, protest movements, campaigns), large scale political phenomena (civil wars, states, sovereignty) and modern political passions (populism, racism, social justice campaigns). This lecture course introduces anthropological perspectives - both classical and contemporary - on the dynamic relationship between enduring cultural formations, religious traditions and expressions of power, identity and domination across the world.
3-5 units · Letter (ABCD/NP)
Public debates across the world warn of democratic decline and the rise of authoritarian rule. Across the world many fight for democracy. But does 'power' and democracy look the same all over the world? When and how did 'the people' become a legitimate source of political power? Why are there still kings, aristocrats and other forms of inherited offices? What is the difference between states, nations and governments? What are the sources of political identity - religion, ethnicity, race, experiences of marginality? Which passions animate political life in different parts of the world? These are some of the many foundational questions that anthropologist and other social scientists have grappled with for more than a century. Early anthropologists studied ritual, kingship, rebellions, magic and trade in small scale societies across the world. In the past many decades, anthropologist have studied modern institutions (such as bureaucracies or prisons) modern political rituals (elections, protest movements, campaigns), large scale political phenomena (civil wars, states, sovereignty) and modern political passions (populism, racism, social justice campaigns). This lecture course introduces anthropological perspectives - both classical and contemporary - on the dynamic relationship between enduring cultural formations, religious traditions and expressions of power, identity and domination across the world.
Offered in Spring 2027 at Stanford University.