2025/2026

The Anthropology of Economy and Ethics

Type: Minor

Delivered by: Department of History

Open to: students of all HSE University campuses

Instructors: Aleksandra Kasatkina, Maria Masagutova, Nikolai Ssorin-Chaikov

Language: English

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Does the economy constitute an autonomous field of relations, driven by the logic of maximising profit or other outcome? If not, what are relations and value systems where it is embedded? Conversely, what kinds of practicalities and pragmatics different systems of value and ethical orientation engender? These are key questions that are asked by economic anthropology and the anthropology of ethics. Both share these concerns as well as some of the key theorists such as Marx, Weber and Foucault. In this course, we examine issues and concepts of these two fields of anthropology.