States and Citizens in Political Anthropology

Module description

This political anthropology module puts Eurocentric political philosophy in conversation with political organisation and experience around the world. It explores central themes such as techniques of governance, articulations of citizenship, questions around liberty(ies) and rights, and the handling of exceptional, marginal, and revolutionary situations through the lens of empirical comparison. It uses empirical comparison strategically to test dominant paradigms of political organisation. This testing in turn becomes the instrument through which this module will pluralise and provincialise the concept of politics. In short, the module will help students achieve a more in depth and nuanced understanding of political concerns and aspirations around the world. While based on the discipline of political anthropology, the module requires some prior knowledge on 20th century political philosophical debates on the nature of the State, power, and democracy (for EIS, a prerequisite may be Introduction to Politics Level 4 and for other KCL students, an equivalent module). The module does not require any prior knowledge in political anthropology and will become the opportunity for students to survey a wide range of political situations that illuminate, revise, and/ or reverse Eurocentric understandings of politics and political experience.

*Please note that module information is indicative and may change from year to year.

Assessment details

10 minute oral presentation (15%) and one 3000-word essay (85%)

Educational aims & objectives

This module aims to:

• consolidate student understanding of critical issues in political philosophy
• introduce students to the discipline of political anthropology
• familiarize students with the productive interaction between theory and empiricism
• familiarize students with a range of political experiences around the globe

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module students will be able to:

• critically review key texts in 20th century political philosophy in relation to their global applicability
• have a solid understanding of key concepts in political organisation and political experience in social science.
• have a better understanding of political experience across the globe
• engage confidently in the systematic comparison of different political contexts

Teaching pattern

One 2-hour seminar, weekly

Module description disclaimer

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.