This course reviews anthropological approaches to the critical study of pressing global challenges, including, armed conflicts, forced migration and refugee movements, surveillance and border enforcement regimes, climate change and environmental degradation, energy politics, food and water insecurities, financial crises and growing economic inequalities. To provide students with a solid grounding in political and legal anthropology, the course will also cover key anthropological works on the state, bureaucracy, policy, and law. The course serves as a gateway to the focus on Politics, Policy and Law (PPL).