Dr. Erik Harms

Biography

Erik Harms is a Professor of Anthropology and Southeast Asian Studies at Yale University, with a focus on urban anthropology particularly in Vietnam. He is currently the Chair of the Council on Southeast Asian Studies and serves as the Acting Chair of the Department of Anthropology. Professor Harms has published significant works, including 'Saigon’s Edge: Margins Ho Chi Minh City,' which explores the social and cultural impacts of rapid urbanization in the region. His second book, 'Luxury Rubble: Civility and Dispossession in the New Saigon,' examines property rights and urban development dynamics in Vietnam. In addition to his teaching, which includes a variety of courses in anthropology, he also runs the Department’s Ethnography and Social Theory Colloquium and advises PhD students. His contributions to academia include a leadership role in multiple academic associations, highlighting his active engagement in the field of anthropology. In recognition of his teaching excellence, he was awarded the Lex Hixon ’63 Prize in 2021. His research interests are rooted in urban studies, ethnography, and the socio-political landscapes of Southeast Asia.

Research Interests

Experience