Law and Politics
In this course we will explore how societies construct, negotiate, and contest political systems and legal frameworks in diverse contexts from an anthropological perspective. We will begin by examining anthropological perspectives on politics and laws across various social structures. We will then discuss dissent, protests, and social movements (e.g., Occupy, Arab Spring, Black Lives Matter). We will inquire into what defines the realms of the political and legal, probing how certain aspects of social life have been structured in explicitly apolitical and non-legal terms. Assigned materials are theoretical and ethnographic readings, supplemented by interdisciplinary and primary sources. The class format includes lectures, media, and group discussion. Students will gain a nuanced understanding of governance, power dynamics, legal norms, and social movements through this course.