Australian Aboriginal Societies: Foundations, Transformations, and Contemporary Challenges

Dozent/in	Laurent Dousset, PhD
Veranstaltungsart	Hauptseminar
Code	FS261361
Semester	Frühjahrssemester 2026
Durchführender Fachbereich	Ethnologie
Studienstufe	Bachelor Master
Termin/e	wöchentlich (Mo), ab 23.02.2026, 14:15 - 16:00 Uhr, 4.B01
Umfang	2 Semesterwochenstunden
Turnus	wöchentlich
Inhalt	Australian Aboriginal societies have captured the attention of both scholars and the public since the early 1800s. Often described as the “oldest living culture,” these communities have served as a crucial testing ground for social and cultural theories, challenging and shaping academic understanding across disciplines. This seminar offers an introduction to the distinctive social and cultural features of Aboriginal societies, exploring their unique organization and worldview. Given their central role in the development of anthropology, learning about these societies provides a valuable gateway into broader social sciences and humanities discussions. We will examine key aspects such as the Dreamtime religious system, gender roles, and the profound changes these societies have undergone through colonization. The seminar also addresses more recent and pressing issues, including the impact of assimilationist policies that led to the “Stolen Generation,” and how Indigenous communities engage with mining and economic development today.
Sprache	Englisch
Anmeldung	***Important*** In order to acquire credits, it is mandatory to register for the course via the UniPortal. Registration opens two weeks before and ends two weeks after the start of the semester. Registrations and cancellations are no longer possible after this period. The exact registration dates can be found here: http://www.unilu.ch/ksf/semesterdaten
Abschlussform / Credits	Aktive Teilnahme / 4 Credits
Hörer-/innen	Ja
Kontakt	laurent.dousset@unilu.ch