AP/ANTH 4270 3.00 Imagined Societies: An Anthropology of Nations Without Boundaries

This course delves into the intricate experiences and challenges faced by minority or stateless peoples existing within and beyond the confines of nation-state borders. Against the backdrop of the ongoing refugee crisis sparked by regional wars, economic crises and climate change, the global community has elevated the issue of statelessness as a pressing concern demanding resolution. However, construing statelessness solely as the absence of formal or legal status often falls short of encapsulating the multifaceted political, legal, cultural, and theoretical dimensions it encompasses. In truth, statelessness encompasses a spectrum of manifestations, spanning from the absence of a recognized sovereign nation-state to the plight of minorities or exiles. Additionally, statelessness can also emerge as a political aspiration in its own right.

The intricacies of statelessness become most pronounced in situations of conflict and within regions where the legitimacy and delineations of nation-states are hotly contested. In such contexts, we often witness the struggles of stateless, Indigenous or minority communities for recognition and entitlement to rights. Conversely, we sometimes observe alternative claims to sovereignty, land and/or community, taking forms of refusal, resistance, or evasion. Throughout this course, our focus will center on the complex interplay between the state, nation, and statelessness. We will delve into questions such as: How does the field of anthropology approach the notions of the state and nation? How have the states and stateslessness manifested across different historical epochs? What does it mean to exist in a stateless condition within a world predominantly governed by nation-states? How does the state factor into the lived realities of those grappling with statelessness? Moreover, can we envision a life devoid of the state in the present day?

Through critical examination and rigorous exploration, we will unravel the intricate dynamics among nation, nationalism, statehood and statelessness, shedding light on alternative perspectives that anthropology brings to these intricate questions.

Course Director: C. Yoltar - cyoltar@yorku.ca