The Anthropology of War
SOAN 3110-01/PEAC 3750-01
Spring 2011
Room: SH 347
MW 2:45-4:00
Professor: Dr. Michael L. Galaty (galatml@millsaps.edu)
Office: SH 343
Phone: Ext. 1387
Office Hours: MW 12:00-1:00, or by appointment
Course Description
One of the most contentious questions in anthropology is whether or not humans are
inherently aggressive and violent. Are we by nature warlike or peaceful? This question
has been approached by specialists in the anthropological sub-fields of physical
anthropology, archaeology, and cultural anthropology, but it has yet to be resolved. It is
still unclear whether our primate cousins, such as chimpanzees and bonobos, are
aggressive and violent, and the role of aggression and violence in human evolution is
equally unclear. Might a propensity for war be written into our genes? Furthermore, the
archaeological record is read by different scholars in different ways. Some say
“primitive” prehistoric cultures were characterized by very high levels of violence, even
war, whereas others say that they were generally peaceful. Still others argue that the
problem is one of definition; how do we define the term war? Whether or not prehistoric
peoples fought wars depends on how the term is defined. The ethnographic record for
contemporary “primitive” peoples is equally confounding. Most cultural anthropologists
agree that all cultures experience some degree of conflict, even violence. Many argue
that there exist some genuinely peaceful cultures and that, in general, even the most
violent cultures experience peace most of the time. Some, however, argue that there is no
such thing as a truly peaceful society and that aggression, violence, and war are today, as
in the past, driving forces in human behavior.
In this class we will seek to solve this conundrum – are humans inherently peaceful or
warlike? We will bring to bear data from the fields of primatology, paleoanthropology,
archaeology, ethnohistory, ethnography, ethology, psychology, and various other
scientific disciplines. In the end we must ask ourselves whether the anthropological
study of war might help us create a more peaceful world. Can we render solutions to the
world’s greatest challenge: ending war and a creating just, lasting peace?
Class Policies
Each day at the start of class I will remind you to turn off your cell phones and
computers, and put them away.
The due dates provided below are deadlines and not guidelines. All papers must be
turned in no later than the assigned due date. Those given to me late, should I choose to
1
accept them, will be downgraded by one half letter grade per day overdue. You cannot
make up an exam without a medical excuse or other information that makes it clear you
had a valid reason for missing. No work will be accepted following the final exam date.
You have all pledged to abide by the Millsaps Honor Code. I expect that you will respect
the Code, especially with regard to issues of plagiarism. During the course of the
semester, as you work on various writing assignments, if you have any questions at all
about plagiarism, come talk to me. Better to be safe than sorry.
Note that if you are challenged with a learning disability it is your responsibility to
register as such with Student Services and to inform me of any allowances granted by the
college, especially in terms of test-taking.
You are required to attend class and to participate in class discussions and activities.
Each of you is allowed two absences before your attendance and participation grade
begins to suffer. Please note that this policy does not discriminate between excused and
unexcused absences; you are allowed two absences total. I will make exceptions for
college-sanctioned events, such as Model-UN or intercollegiate athletics. However, you
are responsible for talking to me about any such absences ahead of time. A significant
component of your grade will depend on your regular, productive participation in class
discussion and other activities. It is not enough simply to attend class in the sense of
filling a chair. In order to earn a good attendance and participation grade, you must
regularly come to class prepared to participate in an engaged and thoughtful manner
(i.e., having done the reading and other assignments). Tardiness is disruptive for the
entire class and will negatively affect your attendance and participation grade.
Required Texts
Gregor, T., ed. 1996. A Natural History of Peace. Nashville: Vanderbilt University
Press.
Keeley, L. 1996. War Before Civilization. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Otterbein, K. 2009. The Anthropology of War. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press.
In addition, several articles and book excerpts have been placed on reserve at the library,
as noted below. You are required to copy and bring these to class.
Boehm, C. 1984. Mountain Refuge Area Adaptations. In Cultural Adaptations to
Mountain Environments, edited by P. Beaver and B. Purrington, pp. 24-37. Athens, GA:
SAS.
Carniero, R. 1970. A Theory of the Origin of the State. Science 169: 733-738.
Chagnon, N. 1988. Life Histories, Blood Revenge, and Warfare in a Tribal Population.
Science 239: 985-991.
2
Ferguson, B., and N. Whitehead. 1999. The Violent Edge of Empire. In War in the
Tribal Zone: Expanding States and Indigenous Warfare (Second Edition), edited by B.
Ferguson and N. Whitehead, pp. 1-30. Santa Fe: SAR Press.
Galaty, M. N.D. “An offense to honor is never forgiven…”: Violence and Landscape
Archaeology in Highland Northern Albania. For The Archaeology of Violence: An
Integrated Approach to the Study of Violence and Conflict, edited by S. Ralph. Institute
for European and Mediterranean Archaeology, University at Buffalo.
Galaty, M., and W. Lee. 2009. Early/’Tribal’ War: Anthropological Perspectives. The
Encyclopedia of Peace, edited by N. Young. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hall, S. 2007. Last Hours of the Iceman. National Geographic 212 (1): 68-81.
Rosaldo, R. 1989. Grief and a Headhunter’s Rage, from Culture and Truth. Reprinted
in Anthropological Theory (Third Edition), edited by R. J. McGee and R. Warms, pp.
579-592. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Schwandner-Sievers, S. 1998. Humiliation and Reconciliation in Northern Albania: The
Logics of Feuding in Symbolic and Diachronic Perspectives. In Dynamics of Violence:
Processes of Escalation and De-Escalation in Violent Group Conflicts, edited by G.
Elwert, S. Feuchtwang, and D. Neubert, pp. 133-152. Berlin: Duncker and Humbolt.
Wrangham, R., and D. Peterson. 1996. Demonic Males: Apes and the Origins of Human
Violence. Boston: Mariner Books.
Assignments
Class attendance and participation: 80 points, 16%. You must actively participate in
class discussion to receive full credit in this category.
Mid-semester exam: 100 points, 22%. This essay exam will test you on the concepts
discussed and case studies presented in the first part of the course.
Research Paper, including prospectus: 200 points, 40%. You must produce a 10-page
study of an archaeological or living culture. Did/does this culture practice war? What
kind and to what degree? Why? You must include at least eight scholarly sources in
your bibliography.
Final Exam: 100 points, 22%. This essay exam will test you on the concepts discussed
and case studies presented in the second part of the course.
Class Schedule
Week One
Introduction to Class
3
(M) Jan 10 Read: Syllabus
Wednesday, January 12: NO CLASS
Week Two
The Anthropological Study of War: A Summary
Monday, January 17: NO CLASS – MLK, Jr. Day
(W) Jan 19 Read: Otterbein, Preface and Chapter 1; Galaty and Lee; Video: “Dead
Birds”
Week Three
Defining War
(M, W) Jan 24, 26 Read: Otterbein, Chapters 2-4
Week Four
Is There a Biological Basis for Violence, and War?
(M) Jan 31 Read: Otterbein, Chapter 5; Wrangham and Peterson, Chapters 8-9; Video:
“Among the Wild Chimpanzees”
(W) Feb 2 Read: Wrangham and Peterson, Chapter 10; Gregor, Chapter 2; Video: “The
Last Great Ape”
Week Five
Biology, continued
(M) Feb 7 Watch: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/07/3/l_073_03.html
(W) Feb 9 Read: Gregor, Chapter 3
Week Six
Did “Primitive” Prehistoric Cultures Fight Wars?
Assignment: Research Prospectus due Wednesday, February 16
(M, W) Feb 14, 16 Read: Otterbein, Chapter 6
Week Seven
Why Might Prehistoric War Have Evolved?
(M, W) Feb 21, 23 Read: Otterbein, Chapter 7
Week Eight
Archaeological Case Study: The Iceman
(M) Feb 28 Read: Hall; Video: “Iceman: Hunt For A Killer”
(W) Mar 2 Mid-Semester Exam
Week Nine
What Causes War and Why Is Peace Rare?
4
(M) Mar 7 Psychological Bases for War and Peace: Read: Rosaldo; Gregor, Chapter 5
(W) Mar 9 Sociobiological Bases for War and Peace: Read: Chagnon; Video: “The
Axe Fight”
Week Ten
NO CLASS, Spring Break
Week Eleven
Larry Keeley’s War Before Civilization
(M, W) Mar 21, 23 Read and Discuss Keeley
Week Twelve
Is Keeley Right?
(M) Mar 28 Read: Gregor, Introduction and Chapters 1 and 4
Wednesday, March 30 NO CLASS
Week Thirteen
Keeley, continued
(M) Apr 4 Read: Gregor, Chapters 6-7
Week Thirteen
Is War Caused By States?
(W) Apr 6 Read: Carniero; Gregor, Chapter 8; Ferguson and Whitehead
Week Fourteen
Ethnographic Case Study: Montenegro and Northern Albania
(M, W) Apr 11, 13 Read: Boehm; Galaty; Schwandner-Sievers
Week Fifteen
Can War Be Prevented? Can Peace Be Achieved?
Assignment: Research Paper due Monday, April 18
(M) Apr 18 Otterbein, Chapter 8
(W) Apr 20 Gregor, Chapters 9-11
Final Exam: Friday, April 29, 9:00 am
5