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Prof. Dr. Michael J. Casimir

Short Biography

Born in 1942 in Berlin. Abitur in Munich 1964. Afterwards, 1964 - 1971 studies (zoology, chemistry, genetics) in Munich; From 1966 with a doctorate scholarship from the Max Planck Society at the Institute for Behavioral Physiology, Seewiesen. Graduation in 1971. Subsequently until 1973 scholarship holder of the Volkswagen Foundation (to the ecology of the Berggorilla in the eastern Congo), 1973-1975 research fellowship of the Max Planck Society. 1975-1977 Fellowship of the DFG (socialization of nomads and farmers in West Afghanistan). 1978-1990 Scientific assistant at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Cologne. Habilitation 1987. Subsequently until 1992 deputy of C2 and C3 professorships at the universities of Göttingen, Hamburg and Münster and researches on the topic of pastoral nomadism in the western Himalayas in Kashmir, India. 1993 Reputation to a C3 professorship at the Universities of Hamburg and Cologne. Appointed professor at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Cologne. 2009 Emeritus Education. Since then, further research funded by the DFG in Kashmir, India.

Thematic Interests and Regional Focus

Cultural ecology, medicine ethnology, anthropology of nutrition, socialization, pastoral nomadism.

Afghanistan, North India.

Research Projects

"Kulturökologie der Gemüsebauern und Hausbootbesitzer auf dem Dal See in Kaschmir (Indien)."

Publications (Selection)

Casimir, Michael J. 2023. Scham und Stolz und die Sozialisation zum „Guten Paschtunen“, S. 153-164, In: Stodulka,Th. von Poser, A., Scheidecker, G. und J. Bens (Hrsg.) Anthropologie der Emotionen. Affektive Dynamiken in Kultur und Gesellschaft. Berlin: Reimer.

Casimir, Michael J. 2022. Hydrokultur – Eine vernachlässigte Produktionsweise. S. 91-104, In: Haug, M, und R. Stolz (Hrsg.) Ethnographic Encounters. Essays in Honour of Martin Rössler. Köln: Rüdiger Köppe Verlag.

Casimir, M.J. 2021. Floating Economies. The Cultural Ecology of the Dal Lake in Kashmir, India. Oxford: Berghahn Books.

Casimir, M.J. 2010. Growing up in a Pastoral Society. Socialisation among Pashtu Nomads in Western Afghanistan. Kölner Ethnologische Beiträge 33.

Casimir, M.J. 2009. “Honor and Dishonor” and the Quest for Emotional Equivalents, pp. 281-316. In: Röttger-Rössler, B. and H.J. Markowitsch (eds.) Emotions as Bio-Cultural Process. New York: Springer.

Casimir, M.J. and S. Jung 2009. “Honor and Dishonor”: Connotations of a Socio-Symbolic Category in Cross-Cultural Perspective, pp. 229-280. In: Röttger-Rössler, B. and H.J. Markowitsch (eds.) Emotions as Bio-Cultural Process. New York: Springer.

Casimir, M.J. and A. Rao 2008. A Black Dog’s Gaze: Some Insights into the Mortuary Rites and Conceptual Transformations among the Gujar and Bakkarwal of the Kashmir Valley, pp. 401-48. In: Rao, A. (ed.) The Valley of Kashmir. The Making and Unmaking of a Composite Culture? New Delhi: Manohar.

Casimir, M.J. 2008. Culture and the Changing Environment. Uncertainty, Cognition and Risk Management in Cross-Cultural Perspective. Oxford: Berghahn Books.

Casimir, M.J. 2004. “Once upon a Time”: Reconciling the Stranger. In: Berland. J. and A. Rao (eds) Customary Strangers, pp. 31-53. New Perspectives on Peripatetic Peoples in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, London: Praeger.

Rao, A. and M.J. Casimir (eds.) 2003. Nomadism in South Asia. Oxford in India Readings in Sociology and Anthropology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Casimir, M.J. and M. Schnegg 2002. Shame across Cultures. The Evolution, Ontogeny and Function of a ‘Moral Emotion’, pp. 270-300. In: Keller, H., Portinga, I.Y. and A. Schölmerich (eds.) Between Culture and Ontogenetic Development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Casimir M.J. and A. Rao 1998. Sustainable Herd Management and the Tragedy of No Man’s Land: An Analysis of West Himalayan Pastures Using Remote Sensing Techniques. Human Ecology Vol. 26(1): 113-134.

Casimir, M. J. and Rao, A. 1995. Prestige, Possessions and Progeny: Cultural Goals and Reproductive Success among the Bakkarwal. Human Nature Vol. 6(3): 241-272.

Casimir, M.J. 1992. The Determinants of Rights to Pasture: Territorial Organisation and Ecological Constraints, pp. 153-203. In: Casimir, M.J. and A. Rao (eds.) Mobility and Territoriality: Social and Spacial Boundaries among Foragers, Fishers, Pastoralists and Peripatetics. Oxford: Berg.

Casimir, M.J. and Rao, A. (eds.) 1992. Mobility and Territoriality: Social and Spacial Boundaries among Foragers, Fishers, Pastoralists and Peripatetics. Oxford: Berg.

Casimir, M.J. and A. Rao (eds.) 1992. Mobility and Territoriality: Social and Spacial Boundaries among Foragers, Fishers, Pastoralists and Peripatetics. Oxford: Berg.

Casimir, M.J. 1991. Flocks and Food. A Biocultural Approach to the Study of Pastoral Food Ways. Kölner Ethnologische Mitteilungen Bd. 10. Köln: Böhlau Verlag.