Environmental Anthropology and Development Sociology

Specialisation of: Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology
Degree: Master of Arts in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology
Mode of Study: Full-time
Duration: 1 year
Start date: September, February
Language of instruction: English
Location: Leiden
Croho/isat code: 60156
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Environmental Anthropology and Development Sociology covers the complex relations between societies and the physical world. It does so in terms of present modes of resource use as well as in terms of future projections; ideas on how to bring about a better, sustainable world,

‘Environmental Anthropology and Development Sociology’ covers the complex relations between societies and the physical world. It does so in terms of present modes of resource use as well as in terms of future projections; ideas on how to bring about a better, sustainable world. The aim of the MA specialisation is to equip the student with knowledge and skills that will enable her/him to analyse the interactions between societies and both urban and rural environments and to engage in activities aimed at the formulation of various types of solutions for existing environment-and-development problems. Often these activities are implemented under the banner of development.

A critical assessment of these development activities is necessary to unfold their long term impact on resources and their effects on existing and future power relations. Reflection on the development process itself – the world of projects -, its prime actors and its effects on various target groups will be part of the analysis. This will also include self-reflection on the role of researchers in this process. The core of this specialisation will be the contribution that anthropology can make to this (by nature) interdisciplinary field of study.

Prof. Peter Pels

“Students carry out individual research for three months into the subject that fascinates them. This is carried out under the supervision of researchers of our institute.”

“Our master’s programme in Cultural Anthropology and Develop¬ment Sociology is first and foremost a disciplinary programme. After an introduction at the MA-level of the theory and practice of ethnography (or how to do research about large and important issues in small places), students can choose between three specializations: Environmental Anthropology and Development Sociology, Global Economy and Culture, and Media, Visual and Material Culture. ‘Global Economy and Culture’ is the most general of the three, and deals predominantly with the small-scale manifestations of large-scale institutions such as global markets, nation-states and international organizations, and global processes of trade and production. ‘Media, Visual and Material Culture’ combines visual anthropology and material culture studies, and allows students a choice between visual anthropology more generally, and a museum-track in collaboration with the Museum of Ethnology and the Museum of Antiquities in Leiden. ‘Environmental Anthropology and Development Sociology’, finally, concentrates on environmental anthropology and the sociology and anthropology of development.

All three specializations can be combined with ethnographic film, on condition of proper BA-level preparation and starting with the programme in September.

Studying culture in the street requires thorough and intimate knowledge of specific world areas. Leiden has long specialized in Southeast Asia en Africa, although staff members (often with the help of area studies colleagues in other parts of Leiden University) also supervise research in other parts of the world. It is this intimate involvement with specific cultural regions that gives our programme its excellent international reputation. Practical field research is one of the pillars of both our bachelor and our master programmes. In the latter, we pride ourselves on the fact that we have been able to perfect our curricular activities and individual supervision to make sure that students finish the programme within a year with an academic product of high quality.”