Social Anthropology

Social anthropology is the comparative study of human societies and cultures from a historical and global perspective. The major point of departure for analysis and description is “holism”: social, political, economic and religious processes are treated as integrated parts of an overall system which governs individual´s world views.

Social anthropology focuses on both traditional and modern societies and thereby contributes to the understanding of cultural variation and similarities as well as to processes of local and global change. It offers, thereby, “answers” to important questions such as the effects of globalisation upon society and culture, development policies, migration and immigration issues, and the construction of ethnic, gender, and sexual identity.

Courses in social anthropology combine theory and practice. Actual instruction includes lectures, seminars, films and practical field exercises.