Anthropology and China(s): Co-constructions of Ethnographic and Academic Regions

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Susanne Brandtstädter
• Subject Area: Social and Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 460398507

The imbalance between prophecies about the forthcoming rise of the anthropology of China; on the one hand, and its marginal role in dominant debates of social and cultural anthropology, on the other, requires scrutiny. In the German-speaking academic region, 'China' has yet to be developed as an ethnographic area. The scientific network 'Anthropology and China(s)' aims at establishing the anthropology of China in the German-speaking academic region as a reflexive, pluralist, and relational project. To achieve this goal, we will organise six conferences to work on three themes (outlined in detail in section III.): the relations between anthropology and sinology, between politics and anthropological fieldwork, between anthropology and anthropologies of China. By looking at China, we open questions about the interrelation of academic and ethnographic regions that are relevant for anthropology at large. The outcomes will be published in an edited volume.

• DFG Programme: Scientific Networks
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Jean-Baptiste Pettier