Addis Ababa University

College of Social Sciences

Department of Social Anthropology
Anth 1012: Social Anthropology (2 Credit Hours/4 ECTS)
Second Semester of the Academic Year 2023/24 GC
Course Outline for the shortened Period of the Current Semester
COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Course is expected to acquaint the learners with essential concepts of anthropology covering a wide
array of questions revolving around our very existence. It dwells on what factors make human beings
similar among themselves. How do human beings differ one from another? What do anthropologists mean
when they talk about diversity, multiculturalism, marginalization, inclusion, and exclusion? This module
thus begins with general issues, including the definition, history, subject matter, and scope of
anthropology; unique features of anthropology; misconceptions about anthropology; the relationships
between anthropology and other disciplines; contributions of anthropology; major branches of
anthropology; human culture and ties that connect society; focuses on issues of marginalization, minority,
and vulnerability. It also discusses ethnicity, ethnic identity, inter-ethnic relations, and multiculturalism at
both theoretical and empirical levels. The module, based on theoretical discourses; provides insights
regarding ethnic identity and ethnic relations, how the terms are defined and perceived by different
scholars through maintaining particular worldviews and contests, and different ways that societies
construct identities and use them for nation-building, economic development, political mobilizations,
control of economic resources, and political power. These discussions further incorporate issues of
ethnicity, ethnic identity, and multiculturalism in the Ethiopian context. Finally, the module discusses
issues related to the customary and local governance systems, and peacemaking in the Ethiopian setting.
Specifically, it deals with the role of customary institutions in the settings of intra- and inter-ethnic
conflicts, elderly women's roles, and their institutions in conflict resolution and peace-building which
highlight the main features of legal pluralism in Ethiopia.

LEARNING COMPETENCIES

Up on the successful completion of the course, the students/learners would be able to:

 Develop an understanding of the nature of anthropology and its broader scope in making
sense of humanity in a global perspective;
 Understand the cultural and biological diversity of humanity and unity in diversity across
the world and in Ethiopia;
 Analyse the problems of ethnocentrism against the backdrop of cultural relativism;
 Realize the socially constructed nature of identities and social categories such as gender,
ethnicity, race, and sexuality;
 Explore the various peoples and cultures of Ethiopia;
 Understand the social, cultural, political, religious, and economic life of various ethno-
linguistic and cultural groups of Ethiopia;
 Understand different forms of marginalization and develop inclusiveness skills;

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  Comprehend identities related to ethnicity that have political, sociological, and economic
importance as these affect the relationship and coexistence in multicultural and diversity
contexts in Ethiopia;
 Appreciate the customary systems of governance and conflict resolution institutions of the
various peoples of Ethiopia;
 Know about values, norms, and cultural practices that maintain society together;
 Recognize culture areas of the peoples of Ethiopia and the forms of interaction developed over
time among themselves; and
 Develop broader views and skills to deal with people from a wide variety of socio-economic
and cultural backgrounds.

COURSE CONTENTS

UNIT ONE: INTRODUCING ANTHROPOLOGY AND ITS SUBJECT MATTER (2 Hours)

1.1. Definition, Scope and Subject Matter of Anthropology

1.1.1. Defining Anthropology
1.1.2. A Brief History of Anthropology
1.1.3. Subject-matter of Anthropology
1.1.4. Scope of Anthropology
1.2. Unique Features of Anthropology
1.3. Misconceptions about Anthropology
1.4. The Relationships between Anthropology and Other Disciplines
1.5. Contributions of Anthropology
1.6. Unit Summary

UNIT TWO: BRANCHES OF ANTHROPOLOGY (3 Hours)

2.1. Archaeological Anthropology
2.2. Linguistic Anthropology
2.3. Socio-cultural Anthropology
2.4. Physical/Biological Anthropology
2.5. Human Socio-cultural and Biological Diversity & Similarities
2.6. Unit Summary

UNIT THREE: HUMAN CULTURE AND TIES THAT CONNECT SOCIETY (6 Hours)
3.1. Conceptualizing Culture: What Culture is and What Culture is not
3.2. Characteristic Features of Culture
3.3. Aspects of Culture
3.3.1. Material Culture
3.3.2. Non-Material Culture
3.4 Cultural Unity and Variations
3.4.1 Cultural Universality
3.4.2. Cultural Generality
3.4. 3. Cultural Particularity
3.5. Evaluating Cultural Differences
3.5.1. Ethnocentrism
3.5.2. Cultural Relativism
3.5.3. Human Right Approaches & Inclusiveness: Anthropological Perspectives
3.6. Culture Change and Ties that Connect (Reading assignment)
3.6.1. Marriage
3.6.2. Family
3.6.3. Kinship
3.6.4. Descent
3.7. Culture Areas and Culture Contact
3.8. Unit Summary

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 UNIT FOUR: MARGINALIZED, MINORITIES, AND VULNERABLE GROUPS (4 Hours)
4.1. Definition of Concepts
4.2. Gender-based Marginalization
4.3.Marginalized Occupational Groups
4.4. Age-based Vulnerability
4.4.1. Children: Discrimination and Vulnerability
4.4.2. Marginalization of Older Persons
4.5. Religious and Ethnic Minorities
4.6. Human Right Approaches and Inclusiveness: Anthropological Perspectives
4.7. Unit Summary

UNIT FIVE: INTER-ETHNIC RELATIONS, IDENTITY, AND MULTICULTURALISM (6 Hours)

5.1. Ethnic Groups and Ethnic Identity
5.2. Ethnicity: Identification and Social Categorization
5.2.1. Ethnicity
5. 2.2. Ethnicity: A Brief Historical Overview
5.2. 3. The Term Itself – Ethnicity
5.3. Conceptualizing Ethnicity
5.4. Theories of Ethnicity
5.4.1. The Primordial Model of Ethnicity
5.4.2. Instrumentalist (Situational) Theory of Ethnicity
5.4.3. (Social) Constructivist Theory of Ethnicity
5.5. Unit Summary

UNIT SIX: CUSTOMARY AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE SYSTEMS AND PEACEMAKING

MAKING (Reading assignment)
6.1. Indigenous and Local Governance Systems
6.2. Indigenous Institutions of Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking
6.2.1. Intra-ethnic Conflict Resolution Institutions
6.2.2. Inter-ethnic Conflict Resolution Institutions
6.3. Women’s Role in Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking
6.4. Legal Pluralism: Interrelations between Customary, Religious and State Legal Systems
6.5. Unit Summary

MODULE DELIVERY METHODS

The instructor who is assigned to offer this course is recommended to make use of different active learning
methods, including brainstorming, questions, and answers, group discussions, buzz groups, cross-overs,
homework, reading assignments, peer teachings, and seldom active lecturing techniques.

LEARNER’S ASSESSMENT METHODS

The instructor who is assigned to offer this course could use the combinations of the following continuous
assessment methods:

 Class attendance and participation 10%

 Quiz, test, individual assignment, group assignment, and/or mid-term exam 40%
 Final exam 50%
Total =100%