Anthropology VU Amsterdam

17/10/2026

New Publication | Artificial Intelligence, Human Factors and European Defence

How is artificial intelligence transforming European defence? And what happens when human capacities themselves become part of military infrastructure?

In a new article published in Critical Military Studies, Professor Dimitris Dalakoglou, from the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, explores the growing importance of human factors in AI-driven military systems.

Starting from a September 2026 AI incident within US Special Operations Command that reportedly almost triggered a war, the article examines European Defence Agency initiatives and the changing relationships between humans, technology and military institutions.

It argues that AI does not simply replace human decision-making. Instead, it reorganises the role of humans within increasingly complex sociotechnical systems, making human capacities themselves a critical component of defence infrastructure.

📖 Read the article in Critical Military Studies where it is open access:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/23337486.2026.2748103?needAccess=true

🔓 For readers without journal access, the publication is also available through the VU Amsterdam research repository:
https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/artificial-intelligence-and-human-factors-european-defence-agency/

N2 - This text starts from an AI error incident of September 2026 within US Special Operations Command that ‘almost started a war’. It examines the growing significance of ‘Human Factors’ in European defence as artificial intelligence reshapes relations between humans, military institutions ...

08/10/2026

https://wennergren.org/program/hunt-fellowship/

13/05/2026

https://vu.nl/en/events/2026/ethnographic-filmday-2026

Want to experience an exciting event with ethnographic films and stories from around the world? Join the Ethnographic Filmday!

02/05/2026

On behalf of the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, we would like to warmly invite you to the VU Ethnographic Filmday 2026, taking place on 21 May 2026 (12:00–15:30) at the NU Building, Theaterzaal 1.

The programme brings together a curated selection of ethnographic films that highlight the importance of visual ethnography and explore filmmaking as a form of inquiry. It includes both established and emerging voices, as well as student works.

We will start with an opening by Daphne Koutra, an award-winning film art director whose work includes 'Triangle of Sadness', winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, titled“Film production design as a form of ethnographic inquiry”.

The films programme features:

Madre by Talita Carvalho & Pedro Afonso Branco Ramos Pinto
Student film: Internal Eyes and Behind the Smile
Lukochuri by Nasrin Siraj & Ellen Bal
Loose Ends by Lianne Cremers, Cato Jansen & Lianne Kotte
Letter to a Friend by Jai Jai & Maaike Matelski

The event will conclude with drinks, providing an opportunity for informal exchange among students, researchers, and practitioners.

01/03/2026

https://vu.nl/en/about-vu/faculties/school-of-social-sciences/more-about/education-social-and-cultural-anthropology

The Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology offers a bachelor’s programme, pre-master's programme and a master’s programme in English.

16/10/2025

https://vu.nl/en/events/2025/entangled-pasts-living-presents-heritage-the-mediterranean

Discover how ruins, artifacts, and landscapes reveal the Mediterranean’s living connections between past, present, and future.

22/08/2025

Dimitris Dalakoglou, professor at the department of anthropology, together with Vasilis Kostakis, has published a new article: "How to reconcile technology and justice in the circular economy: the innovation of open-source mid-tech solutions"

Prof. Dalakoglou, together with Vasilis Kostakis, has published a new article: "How to reconcile technology and justice in the circular economy"

17/08/2025

The VU Introduction Days start this week!

We want to welcome all new students to our campus. During the introduction days, you’ll get to know the campus and meet other new students. Your mentors are there to help with any questions you might have and will explore the city with you through fun activities.

Join the VU Bachelor Introduction Days 2025 and get to know the university, your fellow students, the VU-campus and Amsterdam!

17/07/2025

We are excited to invite you to a seminar organized by Eva van Roekel and Pablo Ampuero Ruiz, and sponsored by the Ethnographic Impact Lab and the Creative Anthropologies Network. Please see the poster below
for all information.

26/06/2025

A one-day networking meeting on “The More-than-Human” will take place in our new Faculty, bringing together staff and students interested in human-nature relations from across the Schools of Religion and Theology, Social Sciences, and Humanities.

Location & Date: Monday 30 June, room HG02A-37 (Main Building)
If you would like to attend, please send an e-mail to Lisa Ausic, [email protected].

https://vu.nl/en/news/2025/the-more-than-human-networking-meeting