Study Abroad in Leiden

The Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology Institute at Leiden University offers a wide variety of BA courses in English language. These courses are open to international exchange (non-degree) students.

BA Courses in English

The Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology at Leiden University offers a number of its bachelor courses in English language. These courses are a part of the BA in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology but are also available to international exchange students. This page gives insight in the main topics of the courses while the detailed information with regard to the time-tables and location can be found in the e-Prospectus.


Cities

"Cities" is an introduction to the sociology and anthropology of cities. How are cities different from other types of places? What can we learn from a study of urban spaces and how can we go about studying them? Given that over half of the world-s population lives in urban centers, it is critical that we develop a cross-cultural, interdisciplinary perspective on urbanism. The course focuses on various aspects of urban life, with a specific emphasis on space and place in the city.

Globalisation and the Market

Globalisation is intrinsically connected to the market. Increasingly, markets become interdependent and transnational and the (neoliberal) market is often understood as the driving force of the globalization processes. Often it is assumed that globalizing markets (capitalism, colonialism, neoliberalism) lead to uniformity of the way in which people conduct their economic activities.

ICT4D: Information, Technology, and Development

This course explores the development in and of cyberspace, paying attention to specific cultural settings while studying information and communication technology such as the Internet, mobile phones, GPS as well as new developmental practices that make use of such technologies. Domestication, subversion and often outright refusal to adapt new technologies are our starting points in asking what social scientists have to contribute to the current Information and Computer Technology for Development (ICT4D) debate.

Social Movements

Social movements and collective action have emerged in close connection with the development of structural inequalities, marginalization and exclusion on the one hand and the ideas of rights, social justice and entitlements, on the other. This course examines social movements as part of global processes and as locally embedded. It will look at how local action is -externalized- to become part of global action; how global social movements are internalized; and how meanings change as politics of contention experience shifts in scale.

Contemporary Visual Culture

In this course we explore the myriad ways in which forms of visual culture and visuality influence and shape social and political processes and the construction of knowledge in different societies. While our main concern is contemporary social formations, we also analyze the visual regimes of colonialism and anthropology’s shifting historical engagements with visual technologies. Among other things, we focus on diverse ways of seeing and looking, on current critical appropriations of the colonial archive, and on modes of self-fashioning through (primarily) visual media. A privileged object of attention will be on how such appropriations of the archive and self-fashionings potentially challenge Eurocentric understandings of media history, specifically, and historiography, more generally.

Visual Methods

This course provides a general theoretical introduction to -Visual Ethnography-, as well as hands on training regarding the anthropological use of video. Students are introduced to the ways in which video recordings can be used in anthropological research. They are also familiarized with the ways in which ethnographic films are made.

The Anthropology and Sociology of Modern Day Southeast Asia

What is the place of Southeast Asia in today's world, and what is its place in the mind of a colorful and widely divergent range of communities, people and citizens? While constantly questioning the merits of a comparative approach this course will strongly emphasize the ways Southeast Asians themselves perceive of their region, as our weekly sessions will include discussion of actual essays, poetry and newspaper clipping on actual issues as well as scholarly analyses of regional experts.

Environment and Society

"Environment & Society" offers an introduction to environmental anthropology and sociology. How do humans interact with their environments in a range of different natural, socio-cultural and political-economic contexts? How can a better understanding of these contexts aid us in finding solutions to environmental problems? Given this diversity and the complex interactions of social and natural phenomena underlying environmental issues, it is important that we approach them from a cross-cultural, interdisciplinary perspective.

Contemporary South Asia

This course familiarizes students with some of the most important historical and social science paradigms regarding South Asia. These paradigms are treated in the literature that is read, and in the lectures. In addition, students acquire basic knowledge about modern South Asian history, and about the main issues at stake in the region.

Rural Development

The course focuses on various aspects of rural life in relation to -development-, -sustainable development-, -modernization- and aid programmes and projects, in a globalised world. We thereby no longer spatially divide the world in so called -developed- and -underdeveloped- countries. World food production, food prices, trade agreements on food products and the like are all intrinsically interlinked. We will explore the position, role and significance of the peasantry particularly of the agribusiness and food industries.

Anthropology of Art and Material Culture

This course introduces the student in the ways anthropologists have dealt with art, in particular the material expressions of art, and material culture. After a general introduction on how western philosophy has dealt with the material world, a historical overview will be given of anthropological studies about material objects. Ending with a critical analysis of the recent discussions on materiality. Then some special subjects will be presented, varying from a structuralist analysis of material culture to practice-oriented approaches, from rituals in New Guinea to shopping centres in Jakarta. The tutorials will concentrate on collecting and museums. Students are expected to finalised the course with a written paper.  

Religion and Modernity in Global Context

This course explores the changing significance of religion in the present day world. Classical modernization theory predicted the gradual decline of religiosity. However, in recent decades, religion has once again gained prominence as a prime societal force. What is the relationship between religion, secularism and modernity? When do we define beliefs as religious? What needs are religious communities catering to? What can we learn from religious rituals? How are new religious beliefs emerging?

Ethnographic Filmmaking

This course explores approaches in Visual Anthropology, and offers hands on training for the use of video by anthropologists. The course focuses on the possibilities that video recordings offer for anthropological research, as well as for the creation of ethnographic films that can be the result of such research. English is the language of tuition, unless only Dutch students are present.

More information

For practical information about study abroad in Leiden, please visit the Study Abroad in Leiden website.  

Web editor Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology
Last Modified: 02-09-2010