Welcome to the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology

Social and cultural anthropology adopts a comparative perspective to focus on the variety of forms that human coexistence takes in various places and at various times. In the past the field's attention was primarily given to small-scale societies outside of the industrial world. Nowadays, the focus of research is frequently on the processes related to colonialism, globalisation and the worldwide flows of migration seen in the present day, for example the redefinition of identities and cultural distinctions. The classical themes of local cultural interactions, organisational forms and world views are simultaneously developed, and intensive field research remains the field's defining characteristic in connection with the "participant observation" method.
Beyond scientific research, the practical application of cultural and social anthropological expertise is useful and sought after in many fields, including refugee work and integration, development cooperation, international missions, cultural mediation, exhibition and media work, tourism, and health care systems.


 Event Tips

Christoph Kühberger

12.12.2024, 18:30 Uhr

HS-A, IKSA

Agnieszka Pasieka

04.12.2024, 16:15 Uhr

Seminar Room SG2, Sensengasse 3, 1090 Vienna

Hier finden sich die aktuellen Events des Instituts an der ÖAW


 Jobs

within the project team "Enacting (digital) citizenship from below: A study on care and the uses of digital infrastructure by refugees in Bosnia and...

within the project "Enacting (digital) citizenship from below: A study on care and the uses of digital infrastructure by refugees in Bosnia and...

Australian National University

application deadline: 27.01.2025


 Calls

Medical Anthropology Europe Conference Vienna, 16.-19.09.2025

Call for Panels open until 15.01.2025

Interessierte (Jung-)Wissenschafter*innen können sich wieder für zahlreiche Preise, Förderungen und Stipendien bewerben.

Eine aktuelle Liste des...

Eine vom Forschungsservice und der Nachwuchsförderung zusammengestellte Liste aktueller Ausschreibungen.