James Holston

Research Bio

James Holston's current research examines the worldwide insurgence of democratic urban citizenships, their entanglement with entrenched systems of inequality, and their contradiction in violence and misrule of law under political democracy. He also studies city movements and new institutions and practices of participatory urban planning and citizenship.

Research Expertise and Interest

citizenship, Brazil, architecture, law, planning, the United States, cities, democracy, political and social anthropology, urban ethnography, the Americas

In the News

Turning data into democratic action

The Social Apps Lab at CITRIS creates free applications based on playful ways to get users to explore their environments, engage local issues, promote public health, and become active citizens. Their current projects include tackling dengue fever, reducing asthma, and engaging citizens in local urban issues.

Teaching

Courses taught during the three most recent terms
2026 Spring
  • Seminars in Social and Cultural Anthropology: Special Topics  [ANTHRO 250X]  

  • Directed Reading  [ANTHRO 298]  

  • Directed Research  [ANTHRO 299]  

  • Mobile City Chronicles  [ANTHRO C146]  

  • Senior Honors  [ANTHRO H195B]  

  • Mobile City Chronicles  [ART C179]  

2025 Fall
  • Politics and Anthropology  [ANTHRO 156A]  

  • Fieldwork  [ANTHRO 197]  

  • Supervised Independent Study  [ANTHRO 199]  

  • Senior Honors  [ANTHRO H195A]  

  • Senior Honors  [ANTHRO H195B]  

2025 Summer
  • Senior Honors  [ANTHRO H195A]  

2025 Spring
  • Special Topics in Social/Cultural Anthropology  [ANTHRO 189]  

  • Seminars in Social and Cultural Anthropology: Special Topics  [ANTHRO 250X]  

  • Directed Reading  [ANTHRO 298]  

  • Directed Research  [ANTHRO 299]  

  • Senior Honors  [ANTHRO H195B]