240515 SE Kinship: Prove, Measurement, Evaluation (P4) (2018W)

Kinship is often taken for granted as 'old', 'traditional' or even 'natural' way of organising social relations. However, the idea that kinship is a human trait that links people even without their knowledge is neither obvious nor universal in time and space. How the idea of kinship as human universal developed and became dominant is rarely explored. In addition, kinship is often seen as on retreat in so-called modern, Western societies, so that its enduring or even increasing meaning can be easily overlooked.
This seminar sets out to interrogate how ways of knowing kinship have historically evolved and with which consequences they are translated into politics and everyday practices. The core of our joint readings and discussions centres around the historical development of techniques of proving and measuring kinship. Case studies on the call for and application of these technologies in concrete policies and everyday life help to understand their importance for belonging. We will read for example ethnographies on changing ideals of biological connectedness and its importance for individual identity that result in the development of new technologies such as paternity tests as well as calls for their universal application. Other examples are the use of genetic testing for affirmative action and for making victims of civil war 'count' in the eyes of the state or the international community.