Anthropology of the State
| Module title | Anthropology of the State |
|---|---|
| Module code | ANT3016 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Kawa Morad (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 40 |
|---|
Module description
Whether it’s a source of aspiration, hope, fear or mistrust, the state seems to preoccupy contemporary thinking across the political spectrum. But what exactly is the state? How are states different from other forms of socio-political organization? How did states emerge historically? What does it mean to be stateless, now and historically? In this module, you will learn how different social sciences study the state. You will then apply those analytical tools to a diverse range of case-studies highlighting how humans live with (and without) states.
This module is well-suited for students interested in politics and the human condition.
Module aims - intentions of the module
You will be introduced to a range of social scientific approaches to the study of the state, from political theory and anthropology to history, archaeology and sociology. You will then apply these analytical tools to a range of historical cases to explore the diverse ways in which humans live with (and without) states. Through a guided research project, you will develop your own personal approach to the study of the state and apply that approach to a particular contemporary or historical state or non-state society.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. demonstrate strong familiarity with the major contemporary social scientific approaches to the study of the state;
- 2. show an in-depth understanding of specific issues related to the study of the state, including definitional matters, the difficulty of defining the boundaries of the state, and understanding the nature of statelessness both historically and today;
- 3. show a detailed understanding of particular types of state like the welfare state, the carceral state, the theatre state, the Islamic state, divine kingship, and the galactic polity.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. critically apply various theories and methodologies to specific cases;
- 5. critically assess claims about the state and socio-political organization more generally;
- 6. think critically about the social, political, and anthropological implications of states.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. communicate effectively in written and oral form;
- 8. engage in cross-cultural translation and comparison;
- 9. conduct research on a topic and organize findings in written form in a compelling manner.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Three Perspectives on the State (Conservative, Marxist, and Libertarian)
- The Problem of Defining the Boundaries of the State
- Archaeological Approaches to the State
- Statelessness as a Choice
- Statelessness as an Imposition
- The Welfare State
- The Carceral State
- The Islamic State
- Divine Kingship
- The Theatre State and the Galactic Polity
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 22 | 2 hour weekly lecture/seminar (or 1 hour lecture + 1 hour seminar) |
| Guided Independent Study | 12 | Research Paper Proposal |
| Guided Independent Study | 56 | Weekly Reading for Seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 20 | Weekly Discussion posts |
| Guided Independent Study | 40 | Research Paper |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Paper Proposal | 750 words | 1-9 | Written and Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Paper | 65 | 2,000 words | 1-9 | Written |
| Portfolio of Discussion Posts | 35 | 1,000 words | 1-8 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Paper | Research Paper (2000 words) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
| Portfolio of Discussion Posts | Portfolio of Discussion Posts (1,000 words) | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
Alexander, M. 2010. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. New York: The New Press.
Althusser, L. 1968. “Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses” in Lenin and Philosophy. New York: Monthly Review Press.
Clastres, P. 1977. Society against the State. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Foucault, M. 1991. “Governmentality” in The Foucault Effect: Studies in Governmentality, Burchell, Gordon, and Miller (eds.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Geertz, C. 1980. Negara: The Theatre State in Nineteenth Century Bali. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Goffman, A. 2014. On The Run: Fugitive Life in an American City. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Hobbes, T. 1651. Leviathan. London: Penguin Classics.
Kantorowicz, E. 1957. The King’s Two Bodies: A Study in Medieval Political Theology. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Petryna, A. 2002. Life Exposed: Biological Citizens after Chernobyl. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Tilly, C. 1985. “War-Making and State-Making as Organized Crime” in Bringing the State Back In, Evans, Rueschemeyer and Skocpol, (eds.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 13/03/2018 |
| Last revision date | 13/01/2022 |
