Anthropology

Global South Asia

Module code: L6057
Level 6
30 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar
Assessment modes: Dissertation

On this module, you’ll use an anthropological lens to explore how social, economic and political changes shape everyday life in South Asia and its diasporas.

You’ll cover:

• anthropological theories of South Asian religion and their relevance today
• experiences of being Muslim from a Shia perspective
• everyday experiences and media coverage of the India-Pakistan conflict
• gender and gender-based violence in India and Pakistan
• the historical and cultural context of Taliban policies towards women in Afghanistan.

You’ll also address:

• the rise of the Indian middle classes
• the role of consumption in society
• the importance of South Asian diasporas to politics in the region
• the case of Imran Khan 
• the role of the state in everyday life
• how digital technologies are transforming journalism and media in South Asia.

Module learning outcomes

• Demonstrate an awareness of key themes/debates in the anthropology of South Asia and its diasporas Demonstrate an awareness of key themes/debates in the anthropology of South Asia and its diasporas
• Demonstrate an ability to locate key themes/debates in broader anthropological debates
• Demonstrate an awareness of the contributions that anthropology has made to the understanding of social, economic, cultural and political dynamics of South Asia
• Demonstrate an ability to critically read and assess ethnographic accounts of South Asian societies
• Express adequate understanding of the above through written means, using analytical frameworks and empirical data