ANTH 256: Anthropology of Mass Violence

Using an anthropological perspective on culture, race, representation, and power, this course examines the deliberate measures and actions aimed at the annihilation of specific racial, ethnic, religious, political, and cultural groups. It focuses primarily on the causes of mass violence: the intellectual histories of societies where mass violence has occurred; how the 'enemy' is invented; why mass killings are carried our; and the psychology and motivations of perpetrators. This course concentrates on the 20th century but includes also other historical events for topical purposes.