Anthropology

Democracy, Dictators, Resistance and Revolt

Module code: L6071
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Lecture, Seminar
Assessment modes: Essay

On this module, you'll explore the relationships that shape politics and power within colonial and post-colonial contexts. You'll examine key concepts such as:

• nation, state, and bureaucracy
• leadership, populism, and resistance.

Using critical readings and case studies, you'll analyse how historical legacies shape contemporary governance and social movements. Topics include:

• dynamics of revolt
• everyday forms of resistance
• the lived experiences of individuals and communities navigating power structures.

This module highlights stories of resilience and transformation, equipping you with the tools to understand and engage with important political issues.

Module learning outcomes

• Demonstrate critical understanding of key themes in analyses of power
• Show knowledge of how concepts such as hegemony, ideology, resistance, discourse and governance have been used by anthropologists
• Ability to apply key concepts to new ethnographic cases