University of Gothenburg
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Johan Wedel

Senior Lecturer

School of Global Studies
Telephone
+46 31-786 59 44
Mail
johan.wedel@globalstudies.gu.se
Fax
+46 31-786 49 10
Visiting address
Konstepidemins väg 2
41314 Göteborg
Room number
C510
Postal address
Box 700
40530 Göteborg

About Johan Wedel

Areas of interest Medical Anthropology, Religious Healing, Cuba, Nicaragua, Santería, Miskitu, Afro-Caribbean

Current research Witchcraft, modernity and the law: A comparative anthropological study  

The project focuses on how contemporary witchcraft accusations and occult-related violence is understood and addressed, and inquires into what happens when witchcraft practices are facing the state system of law. The aim is to examine contemporary witchcraft practices, witchcraft accusations and occult-related violence in relation to the power of the state. The project especially studies witchcraft cases and ideas about witchcraft in relation to policing, legislative approaches and government policies, as well interaction and co-operation between judicial authorities and local communities’ worldviews, including the state’s legal system in relation to local, non-governmental, law enforcement systems. The study is expected to contribute to anthropological theories on collective / individual human rights and cultural pluralism / universalism.  

Teaching and tutoring  Social Anthropology, Global Health, Culture and Health

Field experience Cuba, Nicaragua, Sweden

Selected conferences & presentations Healing and the Transformation of Experience in Cuban Santería. Unpublished paper presented at "Nordic Workshop in Medical Anthropology", University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2000. Religious Healing in Cuba: Afro-Cuban Santería during the Economic Crisis. Unpublished paper presented at the international conference "New African Perspectives: Africa, Australasia and the Wider World at the End of the 20th Century", University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, 1999.