This powerful, accessible new study explores the contributions that anthropology has made to the study and understanding of Islam.
New Departures in AnthropologySeries
This series delves into emerging themes within social and cultural anthropology. Each volume offers original perspectives and syntheses, introducing new areas of inquiry. Authors explore developments that cross disciplinary boundaries and engage with current debates, pushing the forefront of anthropological thought. It's essential reading for those interested in the field's contemporary trends.
Recommended Reading Order
Emotional Worlds
- 316 pages
- 12 hours of reading
This groundbreaking anthropological work reexamines the concept of emotion, reflecting a cultural focus prevalent in contemporary society. It offers fresh insights and perspectives, making significant contributions to the understanding of how emotions are perceived and expressed across different cultures. By challenging existing frameworks, the book encourages readers to rethink the complexities of emotional experiences in a modern context.
A controversial new orientation that resonates with wider developments in philosophy and social theory, the ontological turn and its implications for ethnographic fieldwork and anthropological analysis are the subject of vigorous debates. Drawing together these ongoing debates, this book provides the first anthropological exposition of this topic.
This book offers a sophisticated overview of a vibrant area of anthropological research, providing both a summary of existing knowledge and a vision for future exploration. It highlights key themes and methodologies, making it an essential resource for scholars and students interested in contemporary anthropological studies. Through its clear writing, it aims to engage readers and encourage further inquiry into the field.
An Anthropology of Ethics
- 318 pages
- 12 hours of reading
Focusing on the ethical domain, Faubion critically revises Foucault's investigations to establish a novel approach for empirical inquiry. This work delves into the complexities of ethics, offering fresh insights and methodologies that expand the understanding of ethical practices and frameworks.
Witchcraft, Sorcery, Rumors, and Gossip
- 248 pages
- 9 hours of reading
Exploring the intersection of witchcraft and social dynamics, this work examines how rumors and gossip serve as triggers for accusations and subsequent violence, including peasant rebellions and witch-hunts. Through diverse examples from regions such as Africa, Europe, India, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, it highlights the significant impact of these social phenomena on community relations and conflict. The study offers a unique perspective on the cultural implications of belief systems and the societal consequences of fear and suspicion.
After Kinship
- 232 pages
- 9 hours of reading
Exploring the evolving landscape of kinship in anthropology, this book addresses the implications of reproductive technologies, gender dynamics, and societal perceptions of family. It challenges the traditional biological versus social distinction in kinship studies, questioning its relevance in light of technological advancements. By examining contemporary family forms and public anxieties, Janet Carsten offers a fresh perspective on kinship's past, present, and future, appealing to both anthropologists and broader social science audiences.
Comparison in Anthropology
- 408 pages
- 15 hours of reading
This work offers a comprehensive analysis of how comparison functions within the field of anthropology, exploring both its strengths and constraints. It challenges traditional methodologies and encourages a deeper understanding of cultural differences through a comparative lens, aiming to refine anthropological practices and insights. The book is essential for those interested in the theoretical foundations of anthropology and the implications of comparative analysis in understanding diverse societies.
The Subject of Virtue
- 270 pages
- 10 hours of reading
The book offers a sophisticated overview of a vibrant area of anthropological research, presenting both a summary of existing knowledge and a forward-looking prospectus. It delves into contemporary themes and methodologies, highlighting the significance of this field in understanding human behavior and culture. Through clear writing, the author engages readers with insights that reflect the dynamic nature of anthropological inquiry today.
Economic Life in the Real World
- 208 pages
- 8 hours of reading
This book is directly relevant to students and professionals in anthropology, psychology and economics who are interested in economic life in the real world of everyday human interactions. It is framed around fascinating examples drawn from field research in rural China and Taiwan, and thus provides a useful introduction to these two societies.
Emotional Worlds is the first anthropological work in a generation to reconsider the nature of emotion, a preoccupation of our age. Adopting a narrative approach, it explores cultural worlds from the intimate perspective of the emotional life, showing how emotions tell a story, shaping lives, transforming situations and colouring experience.
Anthropology and the Cognitive Challenge
- 246 pages
- 9 hours of reading
The book presents a compelling argument that cognitive science can enhance the field of anthropology by providing deeper insights into human behavior and social structures. The author, a prominent anthropologist, explores the interplay between cognitive processes and social science, suggesting that integrating these disciplines can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of culture and society. This perspective challenges the notion that cognitive science undermines social science, advocating for a collaborative approach to studying human experience.
Anthropology, Politics, and the State
Democracy and Violence in South Asia
- 218 pages
- 8 hours of reading
Focusing on the intersection of culture and politics, this book analyzes democracy, nationalism, and political violence in South Asia, beginning with a chaotic election campaign in Sri Lanka in the 1980s. It explores rural policing in north India and housing issues in Delhi, addressing themes of secularism and pluralism. The narrative culminates with the efforts of feminist peace activists in Sri Lanka to foster shared humanity post-conflict. This study emphasizes anthropology's vital role in comprehending global political divisions, especially since 9/11.
An Anthropology of Deep Time
- 220 pages
- 8 hours of reading
Rethinking social theory through a rich engagement with landscape and the history of geology, this book explores our human relationship with the timescale of geological formation and shows how social life becomes disconnected from the ecological and geological rhythms on which it depends.
Anthropology, Politics & the State
- 218 pages
- 8 hours of reading
Focusing on the intersection of culture and politics, this book analyzes democracy, nationalism, state dynamics, and political violence through anthropological lenses. It begins with a chaotic election campaign in 1980s Sri Lanka and explores topics such as rural policing in northern India and urban housing issues in Delhi. The narrative weaves in discussions on secularism, pluralism, and the impact of electoral democracy, culminating in the efforts of feminist peace activists in Sri Lanka to foster shared humanity post-conflict. This study emphasizes anthropology's relevance in understanding contemporary political divisions.
Positing new questions and using innovative methods, this book discusses the future as a newly emerging field in anthropology. It will be welcomed by students and researchers in cultural and social anthropology, anthropological theory, history and philosophy.
Witchcraft, Sorcery, Rumors and Gossip
- 246 pages
- 9 hours of reading
Exploring the intersection of witchcraft and sorcery with the dynamics of rumor and gossip, this work highlights how these social phenomena fuel accusations and contribute to social and political violence, including peasant rebellions and witch-hunts. Drawing on diverse examples from regions such as Africa, Europe, India, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, it reveals the profound impact of gossip in shaping societal conflicts and tensions.
The Concept of Action
- 242 pages
- 9 hours of reading
A new theory of human behaviour, with three core ingredients: language, interaction, and social accountability.