DDRO 25A03 - Ethnography and Law: Bringing Back the Empirical

This seminar will question the place of researchers in the 21st century and law through the ethnographer’s field. Is there such a field? The course will introduce basic concepts of law and anthropology, human sciences, its colonial background and methodological critiques to further how lawyers can lean in and explore anthropology’s paradigm of alterity to further critical legal thinking and how anthropologists and other social scientists can look at law as a cultural technique. The class will discuss why using empirical work, sometimes uncomfortable for a researcher, similar to looking in the mirror, can contribute to better addressing today’s ethical and political challenges. Through the revision of diverse examples, old and new, we will learn about the method of “explorers".

Two readings are assigned for the first class, the material will be available on the Moodle page of the course. The seminar is designed for all majors and no pre-required knowledge on law or anthropology are needed. Nevertheless, readings are mandatory and will determine the assessment and well development in class.

In person seminar lecture, with assigned readings and exercises for each class. The seminar depends on the active reading and participation of students. Additionally, in the majority of sessions a group of students will present their ethnographies making team work and dialogue within the classroom a main source of learning. The assessment will include individual and group work, as well as writing and participation skills, looking to include diverse skills and abilities.

• Ethnography (40%) 1.1. Written ethnography of 2000 words in groups (20%), 1.2. 20 minutes group presentation of the ethnographies (20%),
• Final essay based exam (50%),
• Participation and engagement 10%