Anthropology 527 Economic Anthropology
Fall 2012 Syllabus
Class Time/Location: 1:00 – 1:50 p.m., Mon, Wed, Fri,
206 Stevens Building
Instructor: Professor Susan Russell (e-mail: srussell@niu.edu)
Office Hours/Location: 9:00-10:00 M,W, F or by appointment, 207a Stevens
Building
Phone: 753-0246, 753-8577
E-Mail: srussell@niu.edu Note: I am happy to answer questions regarding my lectures
or your readings for this class by e-mail. But please read the syllabus carefully before
asking questions. Also, please use the subject heading ‘STUDENT QUERY’ so that I
know to answer it right away.)
Course Description: This course is concerned with the way that economic anthropology
contributes to a broad understanding of human behavior. There are three general goals.
The first goal is to introduce you to the early debates surrounding the emergence of
economic anthropology from a relatively materialistic form of anthropology to a rapidly
maturing and widely used theoretical perspective. We will contrast the approach that first
emerged in the U.S. with one of the European approaches that tends to have roots in rural
sociology in The Netherlands. Both U.S. and European approaches inform a wide variety
of critical cultural and economic analyses today. The second goal of the course is
designed to introduce you specifically to contemporary approaches in economic
anthropology, including the decision making or rational choice approach, the cultural
economics approach, the political economy/political ecology approach, and the
institutional economics approach. This broad categorization of theory enables you to
evaluate the way in which these perspectives can and should be applied in ethnographic
research with people in different cross-cultural economies undergoing rapid
globalization. Case studies focus on how theoretical perspectives are applied in
understanding market behavior in both U.S. and non-U.S. contexts. The third goal is to
engage you in a short research project based on interviews wherein you will combine
scholarly literature with actual case ethnography. This research project is worth more
than either exam and will help you understand the application of theory to practical
problems in any human society.
Rote memorization of texts is discouraged in favor of learning basic concepts,
approaches, and the problematic aspects of accurately portraying ourselves and others as
products of different economic systems and cultural backgrounds. There will be class
lectures, but the goal is to encourage critical discussion of the readings in class.
In order to participate in class discussions, it is necessary for you to keep up with
the readings. Be prepared to discuss the assigned readings before they are due. Keep a
list of comments or questions you have about each reading so that we can discuss them at
the beginning of each class. You should be prepared to answer questions in class if
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called on as part of your participation grade. Ten percent of your grade is based on
class participation. If we fall behind in the reading schedule, we will make appropriate
adjustments in assignments as the semester proceeds.
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There are about 300 members of the professional Society for Economic
Anthropology (SEA), which has its own website (http://econanthro.org/). The Society
also hosts an annual meeting each spring. In recent decades, the National Science
Foundation Advisor for Cultural Anthropology has been an economic anthropologist.
The books we are reading for this course have received accolades for being the best in
their field. For a list of current books that were finalists for the 2012 best economic
anthropology book, see http://econanthro.org/announcing-sea-book-prize-finalists/.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
There are two essay examinations in this course, each worth 25 percent of your
final grade. A research paper is worth 30 percent, a comparative essay is worth another
10 percent, and the final 10 percent of your grade is based on class participation and
attendance. Attendance is required in this course. If you miss more than 4 classes
without a written excuse from a physician or without permission, your participation grade
will be marked down one letter grade for each class missed.
Important Dates and Requirements:
Midterm Exam – 25 percent and is on Oct. 17
Final Exam – 25 percent and is on Dec. 12, Noon – 1:50 p.m.
Research Paper – 30 percent and due on Nov. 19 (outline of sources and topic due Sept.
26)
Comparative Essay – 10 percent and is due on Dec. 5 at the beginning of class.
Class Participation – 10 percent and attendance is taken daily; may include quizzes.
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TEXTBOOKS:
The 5 required texts are:
1. ECONOMIES AND CULTURES: FOUNDATIONS OF ECONOMIC
ANTHROPOLOGY, by Richard Wilk AND Lisa Cliggett, 2007. (2nd edition)
2. HOME COOKING IN THE GLOBAL VILLAGE: CARIBBEAN FOOD FROM
BUCCANEERS TO ECOTOURISTS, by Richard Wilk, 2006.
3. COFFEE AND COMMUNITY: MAYA FARMERS AND FAIR-TRADE MARKETS, by
Sara Lyon, 2011.
4. FISHING FOR FAIRNESS: POVERTY, MORALITY AND MARINE RESOURCE
REGULATION IN THE PHILIPPINES, by Michael Fabinyi, 2012.
5. A COMPANY OF ONE: INSECURITY, INDEPENDENCE, AND THE NEW WORLD
OF WHITE-COLLAR UNEMPLOYMENT, by Carrie M. Lane, 2011.
Other readings on reserve are marked on the syllabus and will be available
electronically on Blackboard.
Research Paper/Oral Presentation:
In this assignment, you will conduct a short fieldwork project related to a topic within
economic anthropology or globalization. The books ordered for this class may help give
you some ideas for your topic. We also will discuss topics for research during class
periods. In your paper, you should provide an assessment of how your fieldwork or
survey data contribute or qualify the theoretical, substantive or methodological
contributions of the authors on a particular topic. It is expected that you will augment the
course readings by 4-5 additional articles or a combination of books and articles related
to your topic. (see handout “Research Paper for Economic Anthropology” for more
details and some suggested topics).
The research paper length will be 15 pages for graduate students (double-spaced,
minimum 12-point font, 1 inch margins on all sides, Chicago Manual of Style for
bibliography). The research paper is due at the beginning of class on Monday,
November 19 with no exceptions.
Late papers will automatically be downgraded by one letter grade ach day they are
late. Oral presentations will occur the last two weeks of class and will be graded as
part of your participation grade. Depending on the number of students in class, this
date may be adjusted. This course is part of the graduate Applied Anthropology
Certificate
program
at
NIU
(see
http://www.niu.edu/anthro/undergrad/Appliedcertificate/AppliedCert.shtml).
Please submit one paragraph describing your intended project by week five of class,
September 26. Please specify your research question or case to be studied, and why it is
important or interesting. Please also include a methodology regarding your research
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project, e.g., number of people to be interviewed, where they will be found, why this
group is relevant for the research topic, a timetable for the research, and at least four
scholarly or Internet sources to be consulted.
Comparative Essay: Due on Dec. 5 at beginning of class. Write a 3-5 page review that
compares The Netherlands’ approach to economic anthropology with that presented in
the textbook by Richard Wilk and Lisa Cliggett. In what ways are the issues they find
worthy of addressing the same and in what ways are they different? What sources do
they draw on for theory? How do you evaluate the two general regional theoretical
approaches to economic anthropology?
Exam Policy:
If you have a legitimate written excuse for missing an exam (e.g., hospitalization, death
in the immediate family) and this excuse is verified, then you may take a makeup exam at
a time designated by me. Otherwise, makeup exams are not allowed. Also, anyone
arriving over ten minutes late for an examination may not take the exam. You must
complete all course requirements in order to pass this course.
Cheating and Plagiarism Policy: No summarizing of published work without a full
citation of sources (including Internet sites) is allowed. Failure to follow this rule will
result in failure of the course. If you are not sure what constitutes plagiarism, you need to
consult the following overview:
http://www.engl.niu.edu/composition/guidelines/plag.shtml
Also see http://www.niu.edu/polisci/audience/plagiarism.shtml.
Note: NIU abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which mandates
reasonable accommodations be provided for qualified students with disabilities. If you
have a disability and may require some type of instructional and/or examination
accommodation, please contact me early in the semester so that I can provide or facilitate
in providing accommodations you may need. If you have not already done so, you will
need to register with the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR), the designated
office on campus to provide services and administer exams with accommodations for
students with disabilities. The CAAR office is located on the 4th floor of the University
Health Services building (815-753-1303).
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READING ASSIGNMENTS
Week of:
Aug. 27
Read Chapter One and Two of Wilk & Cliggett, Economies and Cultures,
The Formalist/Substantivist Debate and How We Understand the
Complexities of Human Nature
Sept. 3
NO CLASS ON SEPT.3 – LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
The Wageningen School; a European Approach1
Read pp.1-20 of Norman Long, “Agency and Constraint, Perceptions and
Practice. A Theoretical Position” (on electronic reserve or on
Blackboard)
Read pp.21-38 Jan H.B. den Ouden, ‘Some Reflections on Anthropology
in Development Studies’ (on electronic reserve or on Blackboard)
Sept. 10
Read. Ch. 3 of Wilk & Cliggett, Decision Making Approaches and Neoclassical Economics
Ch. 8 in Economic Anthropology, by Stuart Plattner, ‘Economic Behavior
in Markets’ (article on reserve)
“Middlemen and Moneylending”, by Sue Russell (article on reserve)
Sept. 17
Read A Company of One: Insecurity, Independence, and the New World of
White Collar Unemployment, by Carrie M. Lane
Sept. 24
Chapter 5 of Wilk & Cliggett, Economies and Cultures
‘Cultural Economics Approaches’
Read pp.39-73 of Jan Douwe van der Ploeg, “On Rurality, Rural
Development and Rural Sociology” (on electronic reserve or on
Blackboard)
One paragraph description of project due on Sept. 26
Oct. 1
“Introduction: money and the morality of exchange”, by M. Bloch and
J.Parry (article on reserve)
“Cooking money: gender and the symbolic transformation…” by Janet
Carsten (article on reserve)
Oct. 8
Read Fishing for Fairness: Poverty, Morality and Marine Resource
Regulation in the Philippines, by Michael Fabinyi
Oct. 15
Review for Midterm Exam
Exam on Oct. 17
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Articles by Norman Long, Jan H.B. den Ouden, and Jan Douwe van der Ploeg are from the book, Images
and Realities of Rural Life: Wageningen Perspectives on Rural Transformations, ed. Henk de Haan and
Norman Long, 1997, Van Gorcum: The Netherlands.
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Oct. 22
Read Ch. 4 of Wilk & Cliggett, ‘Political Economy Approaches’
Read S. Russell and R. Alexander, ‘Of Beggars and Thieves: Customary
Sharing of the Catch and Informal Sanctions in a Philippines Fishery’
(article on reserve)
Read Ch. 14 of Stuart Plattner, ‘Marxism’ (article on reserve)
Oct. 29
Read Coffee and Community: Maya Farmers and Fair-Trade Markets, by
Sarah Lyon (Winner of the 2012 Society for Economic
Anthropology book prize http://econanthro.org/announcing-thewinner-of-the-2012-sea-book-prize-sarah-lyon/
Nov. 5
Read “Institutionalizing Opportunism” by Sue Russell (article on reserve)
Institutional Economics Approaches
Read Ch. 6 of Wilk & Cliggett, Gifting Economies
Read ‘Barter and Cash Sale on Lake Titicaca”, by B. Orlove. (article on
reserve)
Nov. 12
Home Cooking in the Global Village: Caribbean Food From Buccaneers
to Ecotourists, by Richard Wilk
Nov. 19
Research Paper is due at beginning of class on Monday
NO CLASS NOV. 21 OR 23 – THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Nov. 26
Student Oral Presentations:
Dec. 3
Student Oral Presentations;
***Comparative Essay due at beginning of class on Dec. 5
Review for Final Exam
Final Examination on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 12:00-1:50 p.m.
**********HAVE A GREAT WINTER BREAK***********
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