From its roots in colonial encounters to its role in shaping contemporary understandings of culture and society, social anthropology has been profoundly shaped by political and historical forces. The discipline’s entanglements with colonialism, nationalism, and imperialism are well-documented, yet new perspectives continue to challenge established narratives. Various theoretical turns and paradigm shifts in social anthropology, and the accelerated forces of globalization, have prompted a long overdue assessment in the discipline's self-image and orientation. Studying the history of the discipline is therefore essential not just for understanding the evolution of ideas and theories, but also for contextualizing anthropological practice and recognizing anthropology’s social and political responsibility.
A key focus of this programme is the dual examination of (1) anthropology’s own intellectual and institutional history, and (2) its deep interconnection with colonialism and post-colonialism. While much scholarship has explored the discipline’s colonial past, less attention has been paid to its history under Nazism. The Institute for Social Anthropology is at the forefront of this research area, drawing on extensive archival sources to document anthropology’s role in the ideological and institutional structures of the time. Ongoing projects investigate the discipline’s trajectory in the interwar and post-war periods, revealing the long-term effects of these historical entanglements.
At the same time, many scholars at ISA work in post-colonial settings, critically examining how imperial and colonial-era political and legal frameworks continue to shape contemporary institutions and forms of governance. Recent acquisitions, such as the private archive of Ranajit Guha, provide a valuable foundation for engaging with Subaltern Studies and de-colonial thought, emphasizing perspectives from the Global South. Central to this approach is the integration of participatory methodologies, ensuring that critical reflections on the discipline’s past translate into ethical and inclusive research practices in the present. By interrogating anthropology’s intellectual legacies, this theme aims to contribute to a more reflexive, responsible, and decolonized future for the discipline.
