All societies experience violence in some form, and this course considers violence as a social phenomenon across a range of historical and contemporary settings. Key questions include: is there such a thing as violent culture? Is group identity always violent? In approaching violence from an anthropological perspective, the course emphasises concerns of meaning, representation and symbolism. A central theme concerns the role violence plays in establishing, maintaining and transforming social order. To this end, students will examine subtle forms of violence perpetrated by national and global institutions alongside explicit acts of bodily harm occurring in violent conflicts. A vital aspect of the course involves theorising the relation of the modern state to practices of violence and identity. Students will also consider the position of the researcher in witnessing and writing about violence, and the challenges, ethical dilemmas, dangers and responsibilities involved in such research.

By negotiation: 6,000 words

3 contact hours per week (2 hour lectures + tutorial)