A call to action

The protests around the world against racism, police violence and white supremacy spark much needed conversations. This blog calls to critically look at, and change, our own practices as anthropologists in the Netherlands and at Leiden University.

Anouk de Koning and Jasmijn Rana • June 15, 2020 • 2 comments

Co-labouring for Sustainability: the value of transdisciplinary collaboration between mining actors, artists and researchers

Co-labouring in research projects generates new perspectives and creates shared experiences and moments of enjoyment. Reporting on a recent workshop in Ghana, Robert Pijpers and Sabine Luning show how co-labouring both bridges and reveals inequalities inherent in research practices.

Robert Pijpers and Sabine Luning • May 20, 2020

The overview effect

When astronauts gaze upon the Earth from space, they experience powerful feelings of global interconnectedness. This blog explores what this phenomenon, called ‘the overview effect’, contributes to understanding how the covid-19 crisis might expand the scale of social relations.

Coco Kanters • April 16, 2020 • 1 comment

Introduction: Leiden Anthropologists Reflect on the COVID-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus outbreak raises fundamental questions about the politics and narratives of crisis, as well as about our “ordinary” everyday lives and sociality. Irene Moretti and Annemarie Samuels introduce a collection of blogposts of Leiden Anthropologists reflecting on the pandemic.

Annemarie Samuels and Irene Moretti • March 23, 2020 • 1 comment

Should We Return to “Normal”?

What is the “normal life” politicians refer to when they mark the current crisis as a state of abnormality? Andrew Littlejohn raises the important question of whether we should want to return to our previous “normalcy”, or whether perhaps this normative order itself is deeply destructive.

Andrew Littlejohn • March 23, 2020

Covid-19: a Conversation about Cultural Differences, Nationalism and Care

In this blogpost, Irene Moretti and Erik Bähre have a conversation about the approaches adopted by the Netherlands and Italy to curb the spread of the virus. In doing so, they focus on cultural differences, nationalism and ideas of care.

Irene Moretti and Erik Bähre • March 23, 2020

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

Responsibility in Pandemic Times and beyond: Otherness and Subalternity

The recent outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic forces us to reflect on our shared responsibility to curb the spread of the virus. Irene Moretti wonders what this health crisis might teach us about notions of the Other in everyday life.

Irene Moretti • March 23, 2020 • 1 comment

The worst of citizens, the best of citizens

What is good citizenship in times of COVID-19? Andrea Ragragio reflects on social media discussions of citizenship in the Philippines.

Andrea Ragragio • March 23, 2020