Middlebury

ANTH 0241

Anthro Warfare & Polarization

The Anthropology of Warfare and Polarization
In this course we will use the anthropology of human evolution, religion and politics to identify the cognitive patterns that justify feuding, warfare, witchcraft, conspiracy theory, and ideological polarization. Beginning with animal behavior and hunting and gathering societies, we will study natural selection for accountability, moralism, and factionalism; how social groups define themselves through mimesis, othering and scapegoating; how scapegoating justifies aggression; how sacrifice and other forms of ritualizing victimhood generate sanctity, sacrilege, and outrage; and how religious and political loyalty tests enforce social boundaries (not open to students who have taken SOAN 0341 or SOAN 0344) 3 hrs. lect./disc.
Subject:
Anthropology
Department:
Anthropology
Division:
Social Sciences
Requirements Fulfilled:
SOC
Equivalent Courses:

Sections

Spring 2025

ANTH0241A-S25 Lecture

Spring 2024

ANTH0241A-S24 Lecture (Stoll)

Fall 2022

ANTH0241A-F22 Lecture (Stoll)

Fall 2021

ANTH0241A-F21 Lecture (Stoll)

Fall 2020

ANTH0241A-F20 Lecture (Stoll)