This lively book offers a fresh look at the history of anthropological theory. Covering key concepts and theorists, Mark Moberg examines the historical context of anthropological ideas and the contested nature of anthropology itself. Anthropological ideas regarding human diversity have always been rooted in the socio-political conditions in which they arose and exploring them in context helps students understand how and why they evolved, and how theory relates to life and society. Illustrated throughout, this engaging text moves away from the dry recitation of past viewpoints in anthropology and brings the subject matter to life.
Reviews
"Moberg does a masterful job of weaving together historical context, anthropological theory, and present-day issues and sensibilities. Rather than standing at a critical distance and taking potshots at our disciplinary ancestors, Moberg shows students clearly how anthropology's ideas and theoretical stances have arisen out of, and made sense within, their historical and geographical contexts. His style is engaging, readable, and often laugh-out-loud funny. How often can one say that about a theory textbook?" - Julie Adkins, University of Texas at Arlington, USA
"While other textbooks on anthropological theory give token accounts of the socio-political influences and historical contexts that produced ‘ruling ideas’ on the nature of society and the origins of cultural diversity, these processes are the central focus of Moberg’s unique analysis. Moving beyond biographical sketches and historical vignettes, the book is a lively exploration of how ‘paradigms and politics’ of the past and present inform anthropological thought." - William L. Alexander, University of North Carolina Wilmington, USA
Contents
1. Of Politics and Paradigms 2. Claims and Critiques of Anthropological Knowledge 3. The Prehistory of Anthropology 4. Marx 5. Durkheim and Weber 6. Spencer, Darwin, and an Evolutionary Parable Time 7. Boas and the Demise of Cultural Evolution 8. Culture and Psychology 9. Structure and Function 10. Decolonization and Anti-Structure 11. Ecological and Neo-Evolutionary Approaches 12. Contemporary Materialist and Ecological Approaches 13. Symbols, Structures, and the "Web of Significance" 14. Postmodern Political Economy and Sensibilities 15. The Contemporary Anthropological Moment
Author Bio
Mark Moberg is Professor of Anthropology at the University of South Alabama, USA, and has many years' experience of teaching anthropological theory. His books include Slipping Away: Banana Politics and Fair Trade in the Eastern Caribbean (Berghahn 2008).
