Module Content 

This is the core module for the MSc in Politics, Violence and Crime. The Politics, Violence and Crime MSc programme is designed to provide students with the analytical and methodological skills to develop, pursue, and analyze, research questions, material and projects tied to the interconnected domains of politics, violence, and crime, across a diverse range of spatio-temporal contexts. The programme aims to furnish students with: 
 


	a critical understanding of anthropological and socio-political theory 
	
	
	reflexive praxis of ethnographic method, analysis, and writing 
	
	
	evaluative knowledge of leading theoretical and ethnographic approaches to politics, the state, law, revolution, democracy, violence, identity, criminality, terror, etc., across different times & places 
	
The aim of this core module is to provide rigorous training in anthropological and social theory, emphasizing the contributions made by ethnographic approaches. In Term 1, lectures and tutorials provide a broad foundation in social anthropology, examining fundamental debates and key analytical frameworks in the discipline. In Term 2, the module narrows its focus to critically examine major questions in political anthropology and socio-political theory centered directly on the thematics of politics, violence, and crime. Term 2 is taught entirely through interactive seminar discussions. 

 

Learning Outcomes 

To enable students to identify and critically evaluate major social theoretical approaches to the anthropology of politics, violence, and crime. To gain knowledge of the history of leading approaches in political and legal anthropology and the  anthropology of crime and violence, as well as critical social theoretical perspectives on these domains beyond the discipline of anthropology. 
	To develop skills in demonstrating originality in assessing both the potential and limits of major theoretical and methodological contributions to the anthropology of politics, violence, and crime. 
	To develop independent study and learning, including managing time effectively. 
	To develop the critical aural, oral, reading and writing skills to effectively summarize, evaluate, and communicate complex topics verbally and through writing to both specialist academic and lay audiences.  
	To develop critical understandings of the constitutively perspectival grounding of all knowledge and to be able to critically engage with such positioning, together with the ethical issues that relate specifically to the production of anthropological knowledge. 
	To develop critically informed responses to recent injunctions to decolonize scientific knowledge, in relation to the thematic domains of politics, violence and crime. 
 

 

Delivery method 

In Term 1, a weekly lecture by the module tutors, complemented by a discussion-based tutorial with the class tutors. In Term 2, an interactive seminar discussion led by the module convenor. 

 

Additional Information 

 

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

 