Military Anthropology - American perspective

general courses

The aim of the course is to familiarise students with the main problems of military anthropology in the context of cultural security.

The aim of the course is to familiarise students with the main problems of military anthropology of the twenty-first century in the context of anthropological aggression. During the course, problems such as the following will be taken into account: identity – nation – nationality – nationalism (the concept of social anthropology); the reciprocal interaction of cultures in the context of negative cultural flow; intercultural communication as a tool of dialogue and counteraction of anthropological aggression; forecasts in the field of anthropological defence. During the classes, the student develops research skills in the field of social anthropology and learns to acquire knowledge independently, making use of the support of an academic supervisor.

Subjects of the classes:

Strategic culture – introduction to issues.

Legislative establishment of cultural security.

Strategic culture.

Threats to twenty-first-century culture.

Defence of the values of symbolic culture.

Defence of cultural material goods.

The right to culture.

Cultural balance and openness.

Culture as a tool of international and domestic policy.

Cultural flux.

Military anthropology in practice.

Anthropological aggression.

Anthropological defence.

Human rights – the concept of social anthropology.

Potential threats to cultural security in the twenty-first century – selected examples.

Student workload:

Participation in classes in the lecture hall: 30 hours (1 ECTS)

Preparation for oral examination: 30 hours (1 ECTS)

Bezpieczeństwo kulturowe Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, oprac. J. Czaja. AON: Warszawa 2004.

Boroch Robert, Granice agresji i obrony antropologicznej w przestrzeni kultury materialnej Warmii. W: Gębska M., Majdan P. (red.), Wyzwania bezpieczeństwa międzynarodowego w XXI wieku. Bezpieczeństwo społeczno-kulturowe. T 2. Warszawa: Akademia Sztuki Wojennej, s. 171–182.

Boroch, Robert, A Formal Concept of Culture in the Classification of Alfred L. Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn. Analecta. Studia i Materiały z Dziejów Nauki, 2016, Vol. XXV, pp. 61–101.

Boroch Robert, Wywiad antropologiczny — przyczynek do antropologii stosowanej. Bezpieczeństwo. Obronność. Socjologia, 2016, nr 3(5), s. 5–18.

Jarmoszko Stanisław, Antropologia bezpieczeństwa. Kontury naukowej tożsamości. Siedlce 2015.

Korzeniowska-Bihun Anna, Boroch Robert, Ukrainian Theatrical Projects as an Example of Anthropological Defence in Terms of Anthropology as Contemporary Social Warfare. Security Dimensions. International & National Studies. 2017, No 24, p. 122–136.

Kowalski W. Michał, Antropolodzy na wojnie. O „brudnej” użyteczności nauk społecznych. Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, Warszawa 2015.

Lucas R., George, Anthropologists in Arms. The Ethics of Military Anthropology, New York 2009.

Podstawy bezpieczeństwa narodowego (państwa). Red. J. Pawłowski, Akademia Sztuki Wojennej, Warszawa 2017.

Trochowska Kamila, Soft Skills for Security and Defence: Cros-Cultural Competence and Beyond. Akademia Sztuki Wojennej: Warszawa 2018.

Ziętek W. Agata, Bezpieczeństwo kulturowe w Europie. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej: Lublin 2013.

Upon completing the course, the student:

[Knowledge:]

has a basic knowledge of theoretical and methodological approaches to the humanities, above all cultural studies.

has a basic knowledge of the terminology of cultural studies, taking into account the research perspectives of Central-Eastern Europe (directions, texts, researchers in the field of cultural studies) and the specifics of the development of these studies in the countries of the region; has a basic knowledge of the terminology of related disciplines, which is indispensable in becoming acquainted with and understanding the cultural phenomena of these countries.

has a basic knowledge of the specifics of various cultural models in anthropological terms (traditional, nobility, bourgeoisie, the masses), the processes of their transformation and interconnections as well as their emanations in the symbolic and semiotic spheres, and thus in the arena of the culture, art, literature, and history of Central-Eastern Europe.

[Skills:]

is able to search, select, analyse, and make use of the information he or she needs from various sources.

is able to develop his or her research skills; acquire knowledge independently, making use of the support of an academic supervisor; skilfully formulate thoughts; and present the results of research in the form of oral or written statements (of various types).

[Social competences:]

is prepared to critically assess his or her knowledge, engage in continuous learning, and supplement acquired knowledge.

to set priorities for the implementation of tasks assigned to him or her and others in the area of social obligations.

One condition for passing the subject is compulsory attendance at classes in accordance with the Study Regulations at WLS.

Classes will be conducted in the form of lectures and heuristic discussions.

Active participation in the discussion means substantive participation in the discussion during at least 50% of the classes.

Written work (3 to 6 pages) on a topic assigned by the teacher is planned. The deadline for submitting written work is the date set by the teacher during the first or second class. Students absent from these classes are required to obtain information from the teacher conducting the class.

The final grade consists of:

A paper on a subject designated by the teacher (50%).

Oral examination (25%).

Active and substantive participation in classes (25%).

Grading scale:

0‒49%: 2

50‒60%: 3

61‒70%: 3+

71‒80%: 4

81‒90%: 4+

91‒100%: 5

Additional knowledge: 5+