معرفی
Erik de Maaker is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Leiden University, within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. His research focuses on South Asia, particularly the uplands of Northeast India and the Himalayas, examining themes such as heritage, environment, religion, and relatedness. He holds a PhD from Leiden University (2006) and has conducted over two decades of fieldwork in the Garo Hills region. De Maaker leads multinational research projects, including studies on climate change and heritage in the Himalayas, funded by grants from Leiden’s Asian Modernities profile area and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). He co-edited volumes on environmental humanities, land relations, and media representations of indigenous communities. His work bridges anthropology, environmental studies, and heritage conservation, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity.
Education: MA Cultural Anthropology (University of Amsterdam, 1993); PhD (Leiden University, 2006). Research interests include migration, indigenous knowledge systems, and the politics of heritage. Notable projects include 'Futuring Heritage: Conservation, Community and Contestation' and 'Heritage and Climate Governance'. He collaborates with institutions like the International Institute for Asian Studies and the Himalayan University Consortium. His teaching spans cultural anthropology and development sociology at both BSc and MSc levels.
Grants: Multiple grants from Leiden’s Asian Modernities and NWO. Current projects include exploring garment commodity chains and organic farming in Sikkim. Publications include over 20 books and articles on Garo society, environmental ethics, and borderland narratives. He advises students on ethnographic methods and co-leads initiatives like the LDE Heritage Conference. His work highlights marginalized communities' agency in shaping cultural and environmental futures.
