Module Content

This module allows students to explore in detail the social and cultural dimensions of crime in relation to specific regimes of legality. We will take an anthropological perspective to explore notions of criminality and compare ideas about lawbreaking and violence through history and in different societies. The ethnographic focus will be on a variety of ‘crimes’ from banditry, rustling, extortion and mafias to trafficking, counterfeiting, rape and electoral malpractices. The course will introduce students to a range of theoretical and methodological debates on illegal activities exploring the productivity of ethnographic contributions across different contexts. Case studies are drawn from various regions and countries, including but not limited to, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Chad, Sudan, Libya, China, Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, Italy, UK and USA.

PGT Learning Outcomes

• To enable students to identify and critically evaluate a range of major social theoretical approaches to, and everyday cultural understandings of “crime” across different societies and contexts and its relation with systems of governance and authority

• To gain knowledge about how to study illegal activities ethnographically

• To gain knowledge of the history of major theoretical perspectives on ‘crime’ both within and beyond the discipline of anthropology (in particular in criminology and peace studies)

• To develop a critical awareness of the contributions and limitations of current research and advanced scholarship within anthropology

• To develop skills in demonstrating originality in the assessment and application of the major contributions to the anthropology of crime, including the critical assessment of the methodologies employed by the leading approaches.

UG Learning outcomes

Having completed the module you will:

• be familiar with main debates in the anthropology of crime

• be familiar with lines of enquiry about ethical issues involved in the study of illegal activities and thereby have acquired an appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge in this field;

• have developed their own powers of analysis and comprehension through reading and discussing the course readings

• have developed their critical attitude to material presented and expanded their ability to make use of scholarly reviews and ethnographic material

Delivery method

A weekly two-hour seminar lead by the course instructor.

Additional Information

Students are expected to participate in and make informed contributions to the discussions of the assigned readings in seminars.

Each student will give a brief 10-minute presentation in the seminars on one of module topic.