ANTH 2518 - INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY OF WATER (IN)SECURITY

Minimum Credits: 3
Maximum Credits: 3
Water is essential to life, yet billions worldwide experience water insecurity. This course is concerned with the cultural, political, and biological dimensions of water scarcity, access, and (in)justice. The goal of this course is to introduce students to the many ways that water insecurity impacts humans around the world. We will explore why there is such a variety in water insecurity worldwide and the influences on access to water. We will discuss what the international recommendations for safely managed water are and the social consequences of water insecurity. Using ethnographic case studies, selected interdisciplinary readings, and documentaries, students will learn how communities around the world understand, manage, and struggle over water through topics including, but not limited to, health, gender and inequality, governance and infrastructure, climate, and Indigenous perspectives of water as a living being. Learning Objectives and Outcomes By the end of the semester, students will be able to: * Define key concepts such as water insecurity, water justice, and political ecology. * Analyze how cultural, political, and environmental factors shape experiences of water insecurity. * Connect water to broader anthropological themes such as identity, inequality, colonialism, climate change, and governance. * Evaluate interventions and policies addressing water insecurity * Communicate anthropological insights about water insecurity to public audiences. * develop critical thinking and writing abilities to reflect on the multi-dimensional causes and consequences of water insecurity and the appropriateness of potential solutions.
Academic Career: Graduate
Course Component: Seminar
Grade Component: Grad Letter Grade

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