leidenanthropologyblog

Dr. Erik de Maaker is Associate Professor at Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Leiden University.

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Futuring Heritage: Conservation, Community and Contestation

‘Futuring Heritage: Conservation, Community and Contestation in the Eastern Himalayas’ is a project funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). In the eastern Himalayas, agency is not just attributed to humans, but also to animals, plants, rocks, rivers, mountains, spirits and deities, often in a combination thereof.

Erik de Maaker • September 17, 2025

Decentring Heritage through Una Europa

What does ‘heritage’ mean for different stakeholders? How can we problematise and decentre heritage from a multi-disciplinary perspective?

Megan Rodrigues and Erik de Maaker • April 17, 2025

Making sense in times of uncertainty: ‘models of’ and ‘models for’ the covid-19 pandemic

The rapid spread of covid-19 creates fear and uncertainty, triggering an acute need for theories built on trusted knowledge. Erik de Maaker reflects on how lay and expert theories influence each other in the Netherlands.

Erik de Maaker • March 23, 2020

ANTHROPOLOGY AT A GLANCE: AN ONLINE PHOTO EXHIBITION

The images in this exhibition give an impression of the work of several researchers, ranging from a study of post-tsunami lives in Aceh to food production and distribution in Poland and the perspectives and experiences of migrant parents and welfare professionals in European cities.

Simone de Boer, Jemma Middleton, Anouk de Koning, Jasmijn Rana, Tessa Minter, Mark Westmoreland, Erik de Maaker, Federico de Musso, Maria Vasile, Ola Gracjasz, Esther van de Camp, Wiebe Ruijtenberg, Annemarie Samuels, Vincent Walstra and Gerard Persoon • March 17, 2020 • 7 comments

Anthropologies of and with Asia, at Leiden University

What anthropologies of, and with, Asia do we practice at Leiden University? And how do we want to move forward?

Erik de Maaker and Annemarie Samuels • September 24, 2019

All of one place: A Muslim saint, a converted Hindu princess, and a Hindu deity

Ethnic and religious antagonisms are not givens, but the outcome of historical and political processes. Borders, as human-made conveyors of state-oriented conceptual frameworks, play a central role in shaping these.

Erik de Maaker • May 06, 2015 • 1 comment