Mobility in Asia

ANTHRO 1691 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

How does movement reshape our understanding of contemporary Asia? What happens when we shift our gaze from fixed places to flows of people, ideas, and things? In this introductory-level class in sociocultural anthropology, we explore how mobility creates new social landscapes across the region. Through anthropological methods—especially immersive fieldwork and ethnographic writing—we will examine how historical patterns of migration and present-day movements are shaped by structural dynamics of colonialism, imperialism, late capitalism, labor markets, trade networks, and supply chains. Through ethnographic encounters that reveal the complexity of mobility: from Indonesian migrant workers navigating escort infrastructures to Indo-Bangladeshi border-crossers evading security regimes to Indian Ocean maritime capital flows. Through these grounded examples, we explore how restrictive policies create new regimes of (im)mobility and forms of nationalism, while also examining the lived experiences of individuals and families involved in transnational lives. This seminar guides students through key themes including contested borders, infrastructure development, maritime connections, and global supply chains. At the end of the class, students will develop conceptual tools to examine the mechanics of mobility, equipping them to address the pivotal questions emerging from our interconnected world.