About the masterclass

In this masterclass we aim to explore the history and current state of the art of Dutch anthropology/anthropology in The Netherlands. This field (and its precursors) can be traced back to the final quarter of the 19^th century, strongly framed by Dutch colonialism. This first cycle of Dutch anthropology generated some characteristic approaches such as the ethnographic work within 'Indologie' and the specific Leiden School of structuralism. After the Second World War and the Indonesian war of independence (1945-1949) the discipline of anthropology was properly reconstituted in Dutch academia as part of the modernization and institutionalization of the social sciences. We will address the so-called 'parochial phase' of Dutch anthropology from the 1960s-1980s, the peculiar ofshoot in the form of the 'sociology of non-western peoples/societies', and the recent and current transformation towards a dynamic, diverse, and globally engaged and connected 'anthropology in The Netherlands'. We will explore key conceptual and methodological approaches, thematic fields, and regional foci that mark the current state of the art of the discipline in The Netherlands.

The masterclass will consist of an introductory lecture by Kees Koonings (UU) and Laurens Bakker (Uva), discussion of a few selected texts, and an in-class excercise in which participants can position their own project in the landscape of anthropological research in The Netherlands.

Preparation

Suggested readings will be sent to registered participants.

NESA

This masterclass is part of the course Contemporary Anthropology of the Netherlands School of Anthropology. Each masterclass takes 3-4 hours and offers a combination of a lecture and a seminar.

The NESA masterclasses are for all Cultural Anthropology PhD students from Utrecht University, University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Radboud University and Leiden University. 

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