https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/S_DIEPKnowledge and understanding. The student understands: (1) the most important theories and concepts in the field of the anthropology of diversity, (in)equality and power. Application. The student has acquired the competences to: (2) recognise diversity concepts in everyday life (3) integrate theoretical concepts of this course into research plans and proposals (simultaneously written in the course Field Research Design). Making Judgements. The student has acquired the competences to: (4) demonstrate a critical and curious attitude, that is, an eagerness to question both accepted, scientific explanations and prevalent assumptions about phenomena that by some actors have been defined as ‘societal problems’. Communication. The student is able to: (5) compose a clear and creative, theoretically grounded, oral or written argument. Learning skills. The student has acquired the skills to: (6) cooperate in small teams and jointly take responsibility for giving a full lecture.In this course, we will explore core anthropological debates on diversity, (in)equality and power. Through critical readings of ethnography and theory, students will develop an appreciation for how these concepts are produced, contested and (re-)shaped on various levels of social and legal organization. Diversity has become a buzz word lately. It is often considered to be a core characteristic of modern societies, and a direct consequence of globalization, mobility and the growth of urban landscapes. At the same time however, the idea that the world has become more diverse is too often taken for granted, while the fact that diversity is in itself a powerful social construct which can make and unmake livelihoods is too often ignored. Diversity is about positionality. It is closely linked to how we position ourselves in the world, how we move, how we (un)see and how we are ourselves positioned and (un)seen. During the course, we will discuss the theoretical and societal implications of diversity as they pertain to (in)equality and power using classical, queer, decolonial and feminist approaches. We will assess its complexity given the fact that diversity is at once an analytical concept, a preferred characteristic of society, and a practice. With reference to diverse ethnographic examples and selected readings which helped define key moments or signal shifts in thinking, students are challenged to notice and question their own preconceptions and ideas and to recognize their personal, historical and cultural specificity. Moreover, students are asked to critically assess texts and to apply theoretical insights to real world issues and to their own research designs and projects.Lectures and tutorialsThree assignments and group presentation. The assignments consist of an essay, a peer-review assignment and a creative assignment.