REL 246 - Caste at the Intersection of Economy, Religion, and Law

ECON 246 FDR: SS4 Social Science - Group 4 Distribution
Experiential Learning (EXP): Yes
Credits: 4

ECON 100 or 101 required only for credit as an elective in the Economics major. Prerequisite: instructor consent. Same as ECON 246. Social stratification touches every aspect of life, and South Asia’s traditional caste structure is a special case: this highly complex, strictly-adhered-to system has been religiously legitimized and criticized over a 3,000-year history, and is nowadays seen as being at odds with the modern world. Yet it remains a crucial factor in social identity, economic roles, legal status, and religious practice. This course offers a 360-degree survey of caste both historically and in practice today in Nepal. The course addresses four themes, respectively providing for each a combination of historical background, social scientific analysis of the modern situation, and direct field experience for the students.