Articles about 'social anthropology'

The University’s Department of Social Anthropology studies how people live: what they make, do, think and the organisation of their relationships, societies and cultures. Photography is a core part of that research. For social anthropologists, this imagery is not just part of the story, but a source of insight into who people are.

India’s sophisticated laws and progressive policies fail with startling regularity. A new study locates a possible reason as to why in the convoluted bureaucratic system of the Indian state and its obsession with paper

Best-known for his treatment of shell-shock victims in World War I, a new study examines William Rivers’ crucial, but often overlooked contributions to the study of human culture – revealing how, late in his career, they led him to believe that society as a whole could suffer from “shell-shock”.

Anthropology looks at human differences in its study of the ‘other’ and at human commonalities in its more recent focus on the ‘suffering’. In identifying ways that anthropology can contribute to solutions for world problems, Professor Joel Robbins proposes an approach he calls the ‘anthropology of the good’.

In the township of Mbare, anthropology student Rowan Jones finds a complex picture of poverty and propaganda - plus a baffling level of support for Mugabe. In her second report from this troubled nation, she digs into recent political history to make sense of what she encounters. 

A student photography competition showcases some of the stunning visuals that result from modern Social Anthropology research

Frankie Martin, MPhil student in the Department of Social Anthropology will speak tonight at the showing of a documentary Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam. He reflects on his own experiences of interacting with Muslim communities around the world.

With church attendance dwindling, it’s easy to ignore the pockets of radical Protestantism that continue to flourish in many small communities. Research by Cambridge social anthropologist Dr Joe Webster seeks to understand how these groups navigate an increasingly secular world.

An ancient Incan toothache remedy – for centuries handed down among an indigenous people in the rainforests of Peru – could be on the cusp of revolutionising worldwide dental practice.

The process of giving and receiving (and being in debt) is an inescapable part of human experience. From sub-prime lending and student loans to organ donations and gift-giving in ancient cultures, a conference at Cambridge this week will explore how debt is a central feature of the way in which societies think about and organise themselves.