Legal Anthropology
A.Y. 2023/2024
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 can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Legal anthropology was born as a discipline that studied norms, practices and customs in communities characterised by an oral culture and a simple social organisation. The comparative vocation, the debate around the concept of culture within the anthropological sciences, and the overcoming of the evolutionary perspective in the social and legal sciences have favoured the development of anthropological research-legal in any society.
The course aims to introduce students to the anthropological study of law. It seeks to deepen the theories of the founders of modern legal anthropology, some fundamental themes, concepts and fields of application of the research. Particular attention will be paid to legal pluralism in theoretical and empirical dimensions, women's rights from an anthropological perspective, and the relationship between rights and cultures.
COURSE SYLLABUS
- Culture and law
- The foundation of modern legal anthropology
- Anthropology, colonisation and postcolonial critics
- Legal pluralism: theories and fields of research
- Anthropology and human rights
- Women's rights from an anthropological perspective
- Rights, cultures and normative pluralism
The course aims to introduce students to the anthropological study of law. It seeks to deepen the theories of the founders of modern legal anthropology, some fundamental themes, concepts and fields of application of the research. Particular attention will be paid to legal pluralism in theoretical and empirical dimensions, women's rights from an anthropological perspective, and the relationship between rights and cultures.
COURSE SYLLABUS
- Culture and law
- The foundation of modern legal anthropology
- Anthropology, colonisation and postcolonial critics
- Legal pluralism: theories and fields of research
- Anthropology and human rights
- Women's rights from an anthropological perspective
- Rights, cultures and normative pluralism
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge is required.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons, class discussion, seminars.
Teaching Resources
Attending students:
The material provided during the course.
Non-attending students:
1. L. Mancini, Introduzione all'antropologia giuridica, nuova edizione, G. Giappichelli Editore, Torino 2023 (in corso di preparazione).
2. The following essays (available on the Ariel platform):
- N. Rouland, "L'acculturazione giuridica", in N. Rouland, Antropologia giuridica, Giuffrè, Milano 1992 (45 pp.);
- S. Engle Merry, "Le norme per la protezione dei diritti umani e la demonizzazione della cultura (passando per l'antropologia)", in Diritti e culture. Un'antologia critica, a cura di R. Cammarata, L. Mancini, P. Tincani, Giappichelli, Torino 2014 (19 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.).
The material provided during the course.
Non-attending students:
1. L. Mancini, Introduzione all'antropologia giuridica, nuova edizione, G. Giappichelli Editore, Torino 2023 (in corso di preparazione).
2. The following essays (available on the Ariel platform):
- N. Rouland, "L'acculturazione giuridica", in N. Rouland, Antropologia giuridica, Giuffrè, Milano 1992 (45 pp.);
- S. Engle Merry, "Le norme per la protezione dei diritti umani e la demonizzazione della cultura (passando per l'antropologia)", in Diritti e culture. Un'antologia critica, a cura di R. Cammarata, L. Mancini, P. Tincani, Giappichelli, Torino 2014 (19 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.).
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 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.
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Meetings with students take place in person on Tuesday at 10 and in other times and days always by appointment via email
Dipartimento 'Cesare Beccaria', MTeams