Anthropology is the study of human beings in their full diversity. Its goal is to understand social action in different societies, and explain it in terms of its natural, social, political, economic and cultural contexts. In pursuit of this goal, anthropologists deal with both rural and urban spaces. They examine everyday practice, social and religious movements, the functioning of legal systems, conflicts, or the activities of state and international organizations, and explore how local cultures are embedded in regional, national, and global spaces.

The regional focus of Anthropology at the University of Basel is on Africa, Eastern Europe, Oceania and the Afro-Atlantic. 

Our research and teaching focus thematically on general anthropology; the global economy; migration, mobility and belonging; gender, sexuality and kinship; medicine, health and the body; and the politics of knowledge production.

From a methodological perspective the Institute of Social Anthropology represents primarily qualitative and interpretive approaches. In particular, it nurtures the development of methods that can detect current changes under globalization.

At Bachelor level, students learn to reimagine and understand society and culture. They are taught the history, theoretical and methodological approaches of Anthropology and gain insights into specific fields of research and topics.