240035 VO BM7 Introduction to Economic Anthropology (2023W)

This course is designed to introduce undergraduate students to economic anthropology, a subdiscipline that studies economic behaviour in its widest socio-cultural and historical variation. While the word “economy” is often understood as synonymous to capitalist rationality, originally the notion encompasses all the ways through human societies organise fulfilment of their needs in the broadest sense. Such an inclusive focus goes beyond the dogmas of classical economics and holds the potential for exploring how social relations are reproduced in material ways. Economic anthropology has been vital for comparing the “premodern” ways of making a living and contemporary economies, and thus for envisioning new alternative ways of social organisation today.

The course starts with studies of political economy and the way they have shaped anthropological debates (Marx, Weber, Durkheim). We will explore how economic anthropology has responded to neoclassical economics (Polanyi and the so called formalist vs. substantivist debate). We then go into the studies of exchange, particularly discussions of gift giving, commodities, and the ways they intersect in various social contexts. A special focus is given on labour as both productive and person-making activity, as well as caring labour and reproduction. We then go on to discuss patterns of redistribution in precapitalist and contemporary socities, as well as practices of consumption. One unit will focus on different modes of production and making a living, from peasant to postindustrial societies. Another will explore new developments such as platform work and the gig economy.

The course will be held in English though Power Point slides might be available in German as well after each lecture. The literature will be in English and adapted to beginners in anthropology. In some cases, translations of texts to German might be available.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Understand the key concepts in economic anthropology
2. Grasp the key approaches, debates and authors in the field
3. Think about economic relations in distinctively anthropological and ethnographic ways.

The course is supported by an accompanying tutorial.
Tutor: Paul Sperneac-Wolfer

Tutorial dates:
19 October 16:45-20:00 SR D
23 November 13:15-16:30 HS C
14 December 17:00-20:00 Sitzungszimmer
11 January 13:15-16:30 Übungsraum
18 January 13:15-18:15 SR A
22. January 13:15-14:45 Übungsraum, 15:00- open end SR A