ANTH 363 - Anthropological Perspectives on Global Social Justice

Upper Division

As the study of human diversity, anthropology is uniquely poised to provide valuable insights into the processes that generate inequality and oppression in the world today. In this course we will explore anthropological perspectives on social justice topics through the perspectives of all four fields of anthropology: including the historical origins of social inequality (anthropological archaeology), the social structures and discourses that work to maintain inequality in the modern world (cultural and linguistic anthropologies), and what, if any, basis these inequalities have in human biological diversity (biological anthropology). Understanding local cultures and how they articulate with global systems helps us engage with the world around us in thoughtful ways to improve the human condition. In addition, we will explore questions such as, what is social justice in a global, multi-cultural context? Are human rights universal? When cultural ideas of justice clash, how can they be resolved? With this in mind, we will explore issues of global importance such as, the world economy and economic exploitation, loss of biodiversity and environmental sustainability, human rights, migration, and armed conflict, inequality and disease, and heritage management and cultural survival. Students will learn a variety of theoretical perspectives and apply them systematically to case studies drawn from around the world.

Repeatable
No

Course credits: 3