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.
News & Events
26.-29.06.2025
ANTHROFUTURE will host four programmes
free of charge, but your registration is required
Student exhibition on Thu, June 26th, at Bootleg Vienna, Skodagasse 17, from 6.30pm onwards. All welcome!
Under the supervision of Peter Schweitzer and Olga Povoroznyuk nine MA students spend three weeks in Alaska where they have the opportunity to conduct short-term fieldwork.
Zudem war Sabrina Steindl-Kopf für diesen Preis auf der Shortlist.
Wir gratulieren!
der Antidiskriminatorischen kollaborativen Anthropologie zwischen Studierenden und Lehrenden
30.06.2025, ab 14:00 Uhr
Hörsaal 4C, NIG, 4. Stock
07.07.2025, 16:00 Uhr
online via Zoom
organized by the Society for Economic Anthropology (SEA) in the AAA and the Network Anthropology of Economy in the EASA
Event Tips
Hier finden sich die aktuellen Events des Instituts an der ÖAW
Hier finden sich die aktuellen Events des Instituts an der CEU
Hier finden sich aktuelle Veranstaltungen der Universität Wien
Jobs
in the WEAVE-SNSF Project The Global Hospital
University St. Gallen
Deadline: 15.08.2025
in digital anthropology
ISA, ÖAW
Deadline: 20.07.2025
in social anthropology with a focus on Southeast Asia
ISA, ÖAW
Deadline: 20.07.2025
Calls
established by Editing Press in 2018 with the aim of providing editorial assistance to postgraduates and junior academics
next deadlines: 31.07.2025 | 30.11.2025
Interessierte (Jung-)Wissenschafter*innen können sich wieder für zahlreiche Preise, Förderungen und Stipendien bewerben.
Eine aktuelle Liste des Forschungsservice und der Nachwuchsförderung
Eine vom Forschungsservice und der Nachwuchsförderung zusammengestellte Liste aktueller Ausschreibungen.
