Legal Anthropology
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
This course aims to provide students with the conceptual and methodological tools of anthropology of law, in order to develop the skills to critically analyze from a non-dogmatic perspective the complex relationship between law and culture.
Expected learning outcomes
- the knowledge of the fundamental concepts and the research methods of legal anthropology;
- the ability to apply the skills acquired during this course to the analysis of legal phenomena;
- the acquisition of a high capacity for understanding and critical analysis of the covered topics
- the ability to use the acquired knowledge with argumentative consistency and an adequate command of the legal-anthropological technical terminology;
- the ability to undertake, in an autonomous way, in-depth studies concerning the relations between law and cultural diversity by making use of a method that should combine theoretical reflection and critical observation.
- the ability to apply the skills acquired during this course to the analysis of legal phenomena;
- the acquisition of a high capacity for understanding and critical analysis of the covered topics
- the ability to use the acquired knowledge with argumentative consistency and an adequate command of the legal-anthropological technical terminology;
- the ability to undertake, in an autonomous way, in-depth studies concerning the relations between law and cultural diversity by making use of a method that should combine theoretical reflection and critical observation.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Legal anthropology was born as a discipline aimed at studying norms, practices and customs in communities characterised by an oral culture and a simple social organisation. The comparative vocation and the debate around the concept of culture within the anthropological sciences, the overcoming of the evolutionary perspective in the social and legal sciences are some of the reasons that have favoured the development of anthropological research-legal in any company.
The course aims to introduce students and students to the specifics of the anthropological study of law. The theories of the founders of modern legal anthropology are deepened; fundamental themes and concepts and some fields of application of the research are analysed. Particular attention will be paid to legal pluralism in theoretical and empirical dimensions.
COURSE SYLLABUS
- Culture and law
- The foundation of modern legal anthropology
- Anthropology, colonization and postcolonial critics
- Legal pluralism: concept, theories and fields of research
- Anthropology and human rights: from the 1947 Statement of Human Rights to the 1999 Declaration on Anthropology and Human Rights
- Rights, cultures and legal pluralism: theories and fields of research
The course aims to introduce students and students to the specifics of the anthropological study of law. The theories of the founders of modern legal anthropology are deepened; fundamental themes and concepts and some fields of application of the research are analysed. Particular attention will be paid to legal pluralism in theoretical and empirical dimensions.
COURSE SYLLABUS
- Culture and law
- The foundation of modern legal anthropology
- Anthropology, colonization and postcolonial critics
- Legal pluralism: concept, theories and fields of research
- Anthropology and human rights: from the 1947 Statement of Human Rights to the 1999 Declaration on Anthropology and Human Rights
- Rights, cultures and legal pluralism: theories and fields of research
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge is required.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons, class discussion, seminars.
Teaching Resources
Attending students:
- L. Mancini, Introduzione all'antropologia giuridica, G. Giappichelli Editore, Torino 2015 (e-book).
- Material provided during the course.
Non-attending students:
The course material includes an introductory volume on juridical anthropology and some writings that deepen themes and concepts of anthropology of law. Specifically: the concept of legal acculturation and its effects in the African context; the relationship between rights and cultures, with particular reference to women's rights; the idea of cultural defence and its application in contemporary societies.
1. L. Mancini, Introduzione all'antropologia giuridica, G. Giappichelli Editore, Torino 2015 (e-book).
2. The following essays (all available on the Ariel platform):
- N. Rouland, "L'acculturazione giuridica", in N. Rouland, Antropologia giuridica, Giuffrè, Milano 1992 (45 pp.);
- C. Talpade Mohanty, "Sotto gli occhi dell'occidente. Ricerca femminista e discorsi coloniali", in C. Talpade Mohanty, Femminismo senza frontiere. Teoria, differenze, conflitti, Ombre corte, Verona 201 (34 pp.).
- A. Dundes Renteln, "Cultural defense. Il paradigma monoculturale messo in discussione", in T. Mazzarese (edited by), Diritto, traduzioni, tradizioni. La tutela dei diritti nelle società multiculturali, G. Giappichelli, Torino 2013 (30 pp.).
- L. Mancini, Introduzione all'antropologia giuridica, G. Giappichelli Editore, Torino 2015 (e-book).
- Material provided during the course.
Non-attending students:
The course material includes an introductory volume on juridical anthropology and some writings that deepen themes and concepts of anthropology of law. Specifically: the concept of legal acculturation and its effects in the African context; the relationship between rights and cultures, with particular reference to women's rights; the idea of cultural defence and its application in contemporary societies.
1. L. Mancini, Introduzione all'antropologia giuridica, G. Giappichelli Editore, Torino 2015 (e-book).
2. The following essays (all available on the Ariel platform):
- N. Rouland, "L'acculturazione giuridica", in N. Rouland, Antropologia giuridica, Giuffrè, Milano 1992 (45 pp.);
- C. Talpade Mohanty, "Sotto gli occhi dell'occidente. Ricerca femminista e discorsi coloniali", in C. Talpade Mohanty, Femminismo senza frontiere. Teoria, differenze, conflitti, Ombre corte, Verona 201 (34 pp.).
- A. Dundes Renteln, "Cultural defense. Il paradigma monoculturale messo in discussione", in T. Mazzarese (edited by), Diritto, traduzioni, tradizioni. La tutela dei diritti nelle società multiculturali, G. Giappichelli, Torino 2013 (30 pp.).
Assessment methods and Criteria
Attending students: The evaluation will consider both active participation during the course and the final oral exam covering the content of the lessons (maximum score: 30\30 cum laude). The final assessment will consider both the active participation and the final exam, which can be oral or written, on the topics analysed and the texts indicated during the course.
Non-attending students: Student performance will be assessed through a final oral exam (maximum score: 30\30 cum laude).
The evaluation criteria will consider the knowledge of the fundamental issues of legal anthropology, critical analysis skills and the clarity of exposition.
Non-attending students: Student performance will be assessed through a final oral exam (maximum score: 30\30 cum laude).
The evaluation criteria will consider the knowledge of the fundamental issues of legal anthropology, critical analysis skills and the clarity of exposition.
Professor(s)
Reception:
by appointment via email: [email protected]
Dipartimento 'Cesare Beccaria', Sezione di Filosofia e Sociologia del diritto; MTeams