ANTH2051: Politics and Economics

• People and Cultures (ANTH1061) OR Being Human (ANTH1111)

• None

• None

• An intermediate core module which introduces important topics related to key topics and themes in the anthropology of politics and economics.
• It explores in further depth the key-socio-cultural issues and theory essential to an anthropological education.

• Contents: Students are introduced to a range of theoretical issues that build progressively into a fuller understanding of how anthropologists interpret ethnographic data on the one hand, and of the perspectives they employ to understand socio-cultural phenomena generally on the other.
• Synopsis: to ensure a broad acquaintance at an intermediate level with some of the main topics of sociocultural anthropology seen in theoretical context.
• Summary Syllabus: The module has a thematic focus to cover core topics such as economic anthropology and political anthropology. Topics include the Gift, Exchange and Reciprocity; Markets, Money and Value; Production and Commodities; Globalisation, Development, Power, State and Ethnic nationalism; Human Rights, Torture, Violence and Bodies; Counterinsurgency and Surveillance, Resistance and Indigenous Politics.
• It explores in further depth the key socio-cultural issues and theory essential to an anthropological education.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Factual Material: General awareness of the basic issues covered by the main areas in socio-cultural anthropology.
• A demonstrable more in-depth knowledge of certain key issues.
• Knowledge of middle-range anthropological theory.
• Integrate and evaluate a range of information and data from ethnographic and theoretical sources.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Familiarity with the concepts and methods of socio-cultural anthropological analysis.
• Understanding the technical vocabularies of social science as these apply to the study of anthropology.
• Familiarity with, and ability to access, sources of anthropological knowledge.
• Ability to analyse critically and evaluate anthropological literature and arguments.
• Discern and establish connections between ethnographic data and theoretical arguments.
• Present a coherent demonstration of your theoretical understanding.

Key Skills:

• Search information sources effectively (e.g. libraries, archives) and find information.
• Use academic literature effectively.
• Use information technology and demonstrate word processing competence.
• Structure and communicate ideas effectively in writing.
• Apply key concepts and methods of the social sciences.
• Adopt a holistic approach to solving problems.

• Lectures and tutorials will give an integrated approach to theoretical perspectives.
• Lectures will cover topics relevant for providing students with an understanding of theories currently available for the study of sociocultural anthropology.
• Lectures introduce students to issues, structure the subject matter and provide a grounding in principal issues so they can progress to further learning and study.
• Lectures provide the framework for analysis and relevant background, theoretical and/or historical information, and are used to assist in the assimilation of technically demanding or conceptually difficult material.
• Lectures may include pre-recorded videos, live presentations, and/or interactive activities as appropriate for the material being taught from week to week.
• Tutorials provide an opportunity for students to discuss a series of topics.
• Tutorials imply a higher degree of student involvement and teach subject-specific and generic skills.
• Summative essays test skills of understanding, analysis, information collection and presentation, while final written examinations test assimilated knowledge and understanding and the ability to write succinctly and analytically in a short time frame.
• Students are required to submit two formative assignments (500 word essay plan) and two 2500 word summative assignments (on an economic and political topic) which will each contribute 50% towards the total mark for the module.

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our FAQ webpages, Help page or our glossary of terms. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the FAQ, or a query about the on-line Undergraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.