Anthropology and Development: Understanding Comtemporary Social Change (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781842774168)

This book re-establishes the relevance of mainstream anthropological (and sociological) approaches to development processes and simultaneously recognizes that contemporary development ought to be anthropology's principal area of study. Professor de Sardan argues for a socio-anthropology of change and development that is a deeply empirical, multidimensional, diachronic study of social groups and their interactions. The Introduction provides a thought-provoking examination of the principal new approaches that have emerged in the discipline during the 1990s. Part I then makes clear the complexity of social change and development, and the ways in which socio-anthropology can measure up to the challenge of this complexity. Part II looks more closely at some of the leading variables involved in the development process, including relations of production; the logics of social action; the nature of knowledge; forms of mediation; and 'political' strategies. Following its successful publication in French, this important book will provoke much thoughtful debate within Anthropology, Sociology and Development Studies.

Author: Jean-Pierre Olivier de Sardan
ISBN-10: 1842774166
ISBN-13: 9781842774168
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Language: English
Published: 02/01/2005
Pages: 256
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.26lbs
Size: 9.56h x 6.76w x 0.82d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 02/01/2006 pg. 1051