Anthropology of Peace (307-0-1)

Instructors

Hirokazu Miyazaki
847 4675540
1819 Hinman Ave. #110

Meeting Info

Kresge Cent. Hall 2-380 Kaplan: Mon, Wed 5:00PM - 6:20PM

Overview of class

Short Description:
Cultural approaches to peace, peace building, and peace activism. Topics of investigation include the concept of "peaceful societies," cultural mechanisms for conflict resolution, truth and reconciliation, the relationship between peace and commerce, the role of literature, art, and material culture in peace activism, and the role of citizens in the elimination of nuclear weapons.

General Description:
What is peace? In a world filled with inequality, injustice and violence, the concept of peace may seem overly abstract or naive. Nevertheless, it continues to provide a framework for many forms of global engagement, ranging from international activities in primary schools to humanitarian action and high-level diplomatic negotiations. The anthropology of peace recognizes these various levels of aspiration and seeks to identify unexpected places and moments where peacebuilding can occur in today's complex world.

This course provides an extensive overview of anthropological approaches to peace. Topics covered include ethnographic studies of "peaceful societies," cultural mechanisms for resolving disputes and conflicts, truth and reconciliation commissions, the relationship between peace and commerce, and the role of literature, art and material culture in peace activism. Throughout the course, we will explore a variety of practical initiatives aimed at fostering peace. There will also be several special events featuring examples of local and global peace activism, particularly with regard to the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Learning Objectives

1) To understand how anthropologists study and contribute to world peace and peace building efforts; 2) To discern and evaluate the potential and limitations of universalist values for facilitating world peace and cross-cultural or inter-group reconciliation; 3) To appreciate the diversity of human experiences and visions; 4) To accurately summarize and critically engage with anthropological analyses while examining the relationship among ethnographic data, theoretical concepts and cultural/ideological biases underlying the analyses; 5) To articulate rigorously reasoned views on complex global issues for which there are no easy solutions; 6) To engage and work effectively with others whose experiences and views they do not necessarily share.

Class Materials (Required)

All reading materials will be provided via Canvas.

Class Attributes

Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area