Freedom occupies a key place in modern theory and public discourse. The capacity to make choices is often described as the most fundamental feature of humanity: In many contemporary social theory texts free will - the ability to become an agentive subject and choose between different courses of action - is what defines the human condition. In this course we will critically interrogate this assumption by turning it on its head. By deploying a number of anthropological angles, we will move beyond simplistic depictions of human nature as fundamentally good or evil, instead trying to make sense of the complex and often violent dynamics that impinge on people’s autonomy and self-determination. We will use unfreedom as a prism to shed light on historical and contemporary forms of subjugation, including slavery, domestication, debt and many others. The course will provide the conceptual and empirical tools to examine how unfreedom manifests across diverse social, political, cultural and economic contexts. Throughout the course, we will pay close attention to diverse experiences of unfreedom, as well as examining it as a form of social engineering. The first half of the course will be dedicated to identifying and discussing key concepts anthropologists have developed to address forms of subjection, imprisonment and enslavement. Having established a robust theoretical framework, the second half of the course will be dedicated to case studies that analyse everyday experiences of unfreedom from different vantage points.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- develop and demonstrate an understanding of the core language and key conceptual approaches used in anthropological writings relating to the course content;
- independently read and comprehend anthropological texts, and identify and explain the main arguments and perspectives presented in these works;
- apply core anthropological concepts from the course to real-life case studies;
- critically analyse case studies, and identify the different forms of unfreedom that are present, as well as the power dynamics and social structures that produce and maintain these forms of unfreedom; and
- independently research and interpret case studies of subjugation, by making use of both academic and non-academic (e.g., interviews, media, and online) sources.
Indicative Assessment
- Case Study /Research Essay (2000-2500 words) (40) [LO 2,3,4,5]
- Mid-term multiple choice exam (10) [LO 1,2]
- End-term multiple choice exam (10) [LO 1,2]
- Weekly Reflections (40) [LO 1,2,4]
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Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of workshops over 12 weeks; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
There are no prescribed textbooks for this class. Required and recommended readings will be made available at the beginning of the semester.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
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