Who We Are

The Critical Urban Anthropology Association (CUAA), formerly SUNTA, a section of the American Anthropological Association, concerns itself with theories, problems, processes, and institutions of urban, national and transnational life. Urban life and problems in the modern world are interrelated with national and transnational institutions (especially globalizing capitalism), processes, and forces. Likewise, nations and transnational institutions most express themselves and are expressed by people living in the global hierarchy of contemporary cities. CUAA, therefore, particularly focuses on the interrelationships of urban, national, and transnational processes as they affect and are affected by the everyday social and cultural lives of people living, acting, and struggling in particular places, anthropology’s traditional area of concern.

CUAA’s members, a number of whom reside outside the U.S.A., include academic, practitioner/applied, and student anthropologists. Members’ expertise covers most nations (including the U.S.A.) of the world and their cities. In addition to conducting original research many CUAA members consult and work in or with private and public agencies dealing with social problems, development, and policy formation.

CUAA also publishes a journal, City & Society, which attempts to foster debate and conceptual development in urban, national, and transnational anthropology, particularly in their interrelationships. IT seek to promote communication related disciplines of interest to members of CUAA and to develop theory from a comparative perspective. If you are interested in learning more or submitting a manuscript, please visit their website.

How to Join CUAA

NOTE: To join CUAA one must ordinarily be a member of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) unless one fits the criteria of the AAA’s Associate membership.

Dues: $29 for professional members, $10 for students

Join online through the AAA’s Website »

AAA members can also join SUNTA by completing this form and sending it to:
Membership Services
American Anthropological Association
2300 Clarendon Blvd. Suite 1301
Arlington, VA 22201-3357