Claudine Cassar began her professional journey in business, earning a BSc in Business and Computing from the University of Malta, followed by an MSc in International Marketing from the University of Strathclyde and an MPhil in Innovation from Maastricht Business School. At the age of 23, she founded her first company, which she successfully sold to Deloitte 17 years later.
At 45, Claudine made a bold career shift, returning to university to pursue a degree in Anthropology. Three years later, she graduated with a BA (Hons) in Anthropological Sciences from the University of Malta.
In 2022, she published her debut book, “The Battle for Sicily’s Soul“, which describes the history of the Sicilian Mafia from its beginnings in the 1800s to the present day and provides an in-depth look at the impact that Cosa Nostra has had on the Sicily’s culture and society.
Articles by Claudine Cassar
Caudillismo – A Form of Dictatorship commonly associated with Latin America
Caudillismo is a form of dictatorship that relies on the personality of a strong leader to maintain power.
What are Cash Crops?
Cash crops are grown specifically for the purpose of making money, as opposed to subsistence farming, which provides for the farmer’s family.
Bilateral Kinship – Tracing Descent through both the Maternal and Paternal Line
Bilateral kinship refers to the system of descent in which an individual is related to both their mother & father’s side of the family.
Capitalism – An Economic System in which the Means of Production are Privately Owned
Capitalism is an economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and used to generate profits.
Caste – Social Groups Ranked Hierarchically by Birth, Marriage or Occupation
The caste system is a form of social stratification in which people are grouped into hierarchical categories on the basis of their occupation, tribe, religion, or other factors.
Conspicuous Consumption – Spending Money on Luxury Goods to Display Wealth and Status
The term “conspicuous consumption” was coined by Thorstein Veblen in his 1899 book The Theory of the Leisure Class.
The Origins and Evolution of Fascism and its misuse of Anthropology
Fascist regimes have often used anthropologists to legitimize their policies and actions. For example, the Nazi regime relied on anthropologists to argue that Germans were a “Master Race” that was superior to all other peoples.
Looking at Capital Through an Anthropological Lens
Capital is one of the three factors of production, along with labour and land. It is essential for the financing of the means of production.
Avunculate – Special Kinship Bond between a Maternal Uncle and his Nephews
Avunculate is a term that refers to the relationship between a maternal uncle and his sister’s children, with particular focus on her sons. The term originates from the latin word avunculus, which means uncle.
From Sharing a Meal to Sharing Culture – How Commensality Shapes Social Identity
Commensality refers to the sharing food and drink with others, either as a domestic unit or as a sign of hospitality and friendship.
