Aims

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
situate the main theoretical currents in social and economic anthropology;
have an accurate knowledge of the content of at least one of the currents, and
understand its specific features;
present an argued socio anthropological analysis of a given economic phenomenon.

Main themes

To present the various currents that have nurtured socio anthropological theory in the
field of economics, as a specific field of practice in the entire social domain.
To identify the complex ambivalence of social practices within the 'total social fact'.

Content and teaching methods

This course aims at a sociological and anthropological understanding of economic practices
as one of the three types of practice (i.e. economic, political and cultural) that together make up the 'social domain as such', or even the 'total social fact' (Mauss). It will draw a
distinction between various kinds of formal organisation of economic practices (reciprocity or gift economics, redistribution or administered economics, and exchange or market economics), and will envisage the social construction of reality in a comprehensive perspective that underlines both the complexity of social facts and their ambivalence.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Basic ideas of sociology.
In the form of a classical oral examination, or on the basis of work carried out in a sub
group or individually, depending on the circumstances.
Some reference texts will be provided.

Other credits in programs