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Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social groups & communities > General
The history of anthropology is, to a large extent, the history of differing modes of interpretation. As anthropologists have long known, examining, analyzing and recording cultures in the quest to understand humankind as a whole is a vastly complex task, in which nothing can be achieved without careful and incisive interpretative work. Edward Evans-Pritchard's seminal 1937 Witchcraft, Oracles, and Magic Among the Azande is a model contribution to anthropology's grand interpretative project, and one whose success is based largely on its author's thinking skills. A major issue in anthropology at the time was the common assumption that the faiths and customs of other cultures appeared irrational or illogical when compared to the "civilized" and scientific beliefs of the western world. Evans-Pritchard sought to challenge such definitions by embedding himself within a tribal culture in Africa - that of the Azande - and attempting to understand their beliefs in their proper contexts. By doing so, Evans-Pritchard proved just how vital context is to interpretation. Seen within their context, he was able to show, the beliefs of the Azande were far from irrational - and magic actually formed a coherent system that helped mould a functional community and society for the tribe. Evans-Pritchard's efforts to clarify meaning in this way have proved hugely influential, and have played a major part in guiding later generations of anthropologists from his day to ours.
The Anti-Politics Machine (1990) examines how international development projects are conceived, researched, and put into practice. It also looks at what these projects actually achieve. Ferguson criticizes the idea of externally-directed 'development' and argues that the process doesn't take proper account of the daily realities of the communities it is intended to benefit. Instead, they often prioritize technical solutions for addressing poverty and ignoring its social and political dimensions, so the structures that these projects put in place often have unintended consequences. Ferguson suggests that until the process becomes more reflective, development projects will continue to fail.
Claude Levi-Strauss is probably the most complex anthropological theorist of all time. His work continues to influence present-day thinkers in his field, but he is perhaps even more influential beyond it. As one of the key figures in the development of what is known today as 'French theory,' Levi-Strauss was one of the most important thinkers of the 20th-century. His theories of interpretation, meaning and culture have helped shape the ideas and methodologies of a range of disciplines, above all literature and philosophy. At the heart of Levi-Strauss's work are the questions of meaning and where meaning comes from. As an anthropologist, he was primarily interested in what completely different and separate cultures might have in common. Crucially, he saw how common ground resides not on the surface of cultures (i.e., in similar customs), but deep inside invisible background structures of thought. His quest was to peel away the surface of different cultures through careful interpretation, advancing from one layer to another until he discovered the structures that lay behind all of the exterior practices and meanings. Infamously challenging, his work shows interpretative skills working at the highest, most abstract level possible.
Debt is one of the great subjects of our day, and understanding the way that it not only fuels economic growth, but can also be used as a means of generating profit and exerting control, is central to grasping the way in which our society really works. David Graeber's contribution to this debate is to apply his anthropologists' training to the understanding of a phenomenon often considered purely from an economic point of view. In this respect, the book can be considered a fine example of the critical thinking skill of problem-solving. Graeber's main aim is to undermine the dominant narrative, which sees debt as the natural - and broadly healthy - outcome of the development of a modern economic system. He marshals evidence that supports alternative possibilities, and suggests that the phenomenon of debt emerged not as a result of the introduction of money, but at precisely the same time. This in turn allows Graeber to argue against the prevailing notion that economy and state are fundamentally separate entities. Rather, he says, "the two were born together and have always been intertwined" - with debt being a means of enforcing elite and state power. For Graeber, this evaluation of the evidence points to a strong potential solution: there should be more readiness to write off debt, and more public involvement in the debate over debt and its moral implications.
This authoritative collection brings together the most significant papers by leading scholars in an increasingly important area of study. Social scientists and political analysts are becoming more and more aware of the importance of long-maintained or newly embellished links between post-migration communities and the societies from which they originate. Closely tied to this field is a renewed interest in 'diasporas' or globally dispersed groups whose collective experiences often draw on deep historical roots in more than one place. The articles selected for this volume represent key contemporary theories, comparative research and case studies. Contributors are drawn from the disciplines of sociology, anthropology, economics, cultural studies, political science and history. Migration, Diaporas and Transnationalism will be a valuable resource for students and professional researchers who have an interest in migration, globalization, ethnic relations, culture and identity.
This title was first published in 1978. How far have sociologists working in countries commonly designated as "socialist" gone in studying the class structure and social consciousness of their own societies? What kinds of questions have they posed, and what is the degree of technical sophistication applied in answering them? Western sociologists interested in the fate of their discipline in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union have long recognized that the answers to these questions will differ substantially depending upon which particular socialist society one has in mind. The selection from Polish sociological literature brought together here by Stomczynski and Krauze should help to answer the questions raised and provide readers with the opportunity to assess the quality of Polish sociological studies in the areas of class structure, social mobility, and class consciousness.
One of the most resilient ideas about societal development after World War II was that nations would inevitably secularise as they modernised. However, as we come to the end of the 'secular' twentieth century, it is obvious that religion continues to be an important factor in politics around the world. The author examines the continuing importance of religion, focusing upon the regions of Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
Much of the Middle East is in a continuing state of visible, often revolutionary, change in almost every field--social, cultural, economic, political. Although time will have greatly modified the conditions here presented, the author emphasizes those aspects which, being the least ephemeral, were likely to remain valid for some years and indicates the areas in which the most change can be expected. Therefore, in evaluating any change that has occurred, the reader will at least be informed of the conditions out of which--or because of which--such an event occurred.In some cases Longrigg passes over important aspects of the Middle Eastern region and its component countries, almost or entirely in silence: among such aspects being those of military resources, prominent personalities, constitutional or legal issues, budgets and balances of trade. And even on matters upon which he has said something fairly specific--topography, races and languages, religions, climates, natural resources and agronomy, industry, communications--there may be too little detailed information to satisfy a reader desirous of a full picture of a given aspect of things in this or that territory. For most of such detail, and not less for an appreciation which may be widely different from the author's, the student can very easily look elsewhere: the literature of these countries is abundant and accessible.Longrigg's attempt has been to offer an objective but informed account of the different nationalities and social forces found in Middle Eastern environments, urban and rural, in terms of the particular circumstances, problems and hopes of the dozen separate and more or less divided states of the region. The non-specialist reader may from all this learn something true and perhaps suggestive, while the expert may find not too much to offend him.
This title was first publised in 2002: The Third Part of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation was adopted by the Russian Parliament on November 26, 2001, to take effect on March 1, 2002. It has two divisions: Inheritance Law and Private International Law. This translation of the Third Part of the Code by Peter B. Maggs includes an introduction by Professor Maggs as well as all amendments to the first two parts of the Code. Some of these amendments are of a purely technical nature, but some include substantive changes. This volume thus complements the first and second parts of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, published in 1997 by M.E. Sharpe.
In his 1997 work Guns, Germs and Steel, Jared Diamond marshals evidence from five continents and across 13,000 years of human history in an attempt to answer the question of why that history unfolded so differently in various parts of the globe. His results offer new explanations for why the unequal divisions of power and wealth so familiar to us today came into existence - and have persisted. Balancing materials drawn from a vast range of sources, addressing core problems that have fascinated historians, anthropologists, biologists and geographers alike - and blending his analysis to create a compelling narrative that became an international best-seller and reached a broad general market - required a mastery of the critical thinking skill of reasoning that few other scholars can rival. Diamond's reasoning skills allow him to persuade his readers of the value of his interdisciplinary approach and produce well-structured arguments that keep them turning pages even as he refocuses his analysis from one disparate example to another. Diamond adds to that a spectacular ability to grasp the meaning of the available evidence produced by scholars in those widely different disciplines - making Guns, Germs and Steel equally valuable as an exercise in high-level interpretation.
In antiquity, it was not only Aristotle who assumed the people are more to be understood in relation to one another than as individual or solitary constructs. Friendship was vital to figures wuch as Aristotle, Plato and Socrates, because it supplied the tpe of bonding or fellowship without which they supposed no society could survive - a person ufil for communal life, for Aristotle, must be either a beast or a god.
Suitable for 2nd and 3rd year students taking courses on drug use/misuse principally in departments such as Sociology, Law, Cultural and Media Studies, and Psychology. Also particularly relevant for students taking courses leading to a profession, such as nurses and social workers. The use of illegal drugs is widespread in many societies. Within many western societies particular concern has been focused on the nature and extent of illegal drug use amongst young people. In much of the media coverage an impression is often conveyed that the use of illegal drugs other than cannabis is a one way street leading inevitably to addiction, destitution, family breakdown and death. This impression fails to grasp the fact that most drug users do not become addicts and most addicts do not die. The perception of addiction as a fixed end point characterised by personal and social dissolution fails to recognise that many dependent drug users, even after a period of prolonged dependent drug use, nevertheless still manage to overcome their dependence upon illegal drugs. This process of recovery, either with or without the assistance of helping agencies, has been variously described by researchers, drug counsellors, clinicians and others.
Survival, the Institute of Strategic Studies' quarterly journal, is a leading forum for analysis and debate of international and strategic affairs. With a diverse range of authors, eight to ten articles per issue, plus thoughtful reviews and review essays, Survival is scholarly in depth while vivid, well-written and policy-relevant in approach. Shaped by its editors to be both timely and forward-thinking, the journal encourages writers to challenge conventional wisdom and bring fresh, often controversial, perspectives to bear on the strategic issues of the moment.
Allan and Anne Findlay argue that a nation's human population is a vital resource in the development process. Changes in its composition - increased life expectancy combined with a falling birth rate, for example - can have profound effects upon a society. Warfare and mass migration of male workers also have long-reaching effects on those left behind. The rapid growth of Third World populations has often incorrectly been identified as the major force preventing more rapid economic development. Population pressure has been known to generate technological breakthroughs. Their final chapter examines family planning programmes, and concludes by asking who benefits most from population policies and questioning the right of developed countries to advocate family planning programmes for Third World nations.
The School Years provides a challenging and lively collection of essays on key issues affecting young people in the school setting. It is an essential book for all those concerned with adolescence and education. Since the first edition in 1979, major social changes such as unemployment, AIDS, issues of race and gender, and increasing divorce rates have had a direct impact on education and young people. With these dramatice changes in mind, the contributors take an entirely new and up-to-date approach to current controversial issues such as the relationship of home and school, gender roles, morality, delinquency, and peer groups. Contributors include: John Coleman, Trust for the Study of Adolescence; T. Honess, School of Psychology, University of Wales; Peter Kutnick, Department of Education, University of Sussex; Sally Archer, Trenton State College, USA; Philida Salmon, Institute of Education, University of London; Maurice Chazan; David P. Farrington, Institute of Criminology, Cambridge.
As a teacher, how can I increase my personal effectiveness, and how can I improve the quality of relationships in the classroom? These are the two fundamental questions which Human Relations in Education sets out to answer - in a way that will appeal to all those concerned with education. Eric and Carol Hall examine issues such as self-concept, social and emotional learning, the dynamics of the staffroom and the classroom, as well as stress management and relaxation. They demonstrate how these affect human relations in schools and colleges. Interpersonal communications and counselling skills are then examined in terms of language, imagery and non-verbal communication. With its original blend of theory and practical exercises, Human Relations in Education is essential reading for both experienced teachers and teachers in training.
This text provides a comprehensive look at the fast growing meetings and convention market segment. A usefulhow- to guide, it takes students through all aspects of selling and servicing a convention at a hotel or other group meeting facility. In addition, it profiles the customer for meetings and conventions, the planners in charge of site selection, and facilities they commonly use. Also includesIndustry Insiders planning tips and case studies direct from professionals in Convention Services departments.
This is an innovative yet practical resource book for teachers, focusing on the classroom and covering vital skills for primary and secondary teachers. The book is strongly influenced by the findings of numerous research projects during which hundreds of teachers were observed at work. This book addresses both formal and informal ways of assessing children's work and progress. Pupils' learning is often neglected in the debate, so this book puts what children actually learn right at its centre. Divided into six units, Ted Wragg addresses important topics such as: principles and purposes of assessment written, oral and practical evaluation self-assessment the 'whole school' approach staff development and appraisal. The inclusion of practical activities, discussion topics, photographs, cartoons and case examples makes this a very user-friendly book for both trainee and experienced teachers in primary schools.
Louisiana's Chenier Plain is a 2,200-square-mile region of marshes and oak-covered ridges (cheniers) that stretches along the Gulf of Mexico from Sabine Lake to Vermilion Bay. Its inhabitants, some 6,000 people of Cajun and other ancestries, retain strong economic and cultural ties to the land and its teeming wildlife. They call it paradise...but it is a vulnerable paradise. In this multifaceted study, Gay Gomez explores the interaction of the land, people, and wildlife of the Chenier Plain, revealing both the uniqueness of the region and the challenges it faces. After describing the geography and history of the Chenier Plain, Gomez turns to the lifeways of its people. Drawing on their words and stories, she tells how the chenier dwellers combine modern occupations with traditional pursuits such as alligator and waterfowl hunting, fur trapping, and fishing. She shows how these traditions of wildlife use provide both economic incentives for conservation and a source of personal and place identity. This portrait of a "working wetland" reveals how wildlife use and appreciation can give rise to a stewardship that balances biological, economic, and cultural concerns in species and habitat protection.
Originally published in 1987, Dollars and Borders explores the United States' government's relation to transnational capital. James P. Hawley traces the attempts of four presidents (John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Jimmy Carter) in the 1960s and 1970s to restrict international movements of U.S. capital and analyses the political and economic issues confronted by the government during this period. This title will be of particular interest to students of Politics and Economics.
First published in 1975, this book compiles a number of studies concerning institutional care and children, which address the question of why institutions that serve apparently similar functions differ so much. The book uses comparative methods such as measurement of different 'dimensions' of institutional care and analysis of interrelationships among specific structural and functional features which characterise particular institutions. As a result, the book draws broad conclusions about the importance of factors that have dynamic influence on the manner in which institutions function and the reasons why they differ. The editors reject the 'steampress' model which postulates that institutions are more or less alike. They discuss ideological and organisational variation, differences in staffing and the manner in which children respond to them, and consider these issues as factors that influence the way in which an institution functions 'as a whole'. Subsequent chapters describe comparative studies carried out in institutions for the mentally handicapped, approved schools, residential nurseries, probation hostels, other 'correctional' institutions and units for autistic children. The book enables the reader to appreciate achievements and shortcomings of contemporary research and thinking in this field. |
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