anthropology in the news | antropologi.info

Anthropology in a Time of Crisis. A Note from Nepal

Published on May 6, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, applied anthropology, Asia, politics

Sara Shneiderman, PhD candidate in anthropology at Cornell University, Anthropology News May 2005

Although Nepal’s “regional ethnography traditions” have long focused on classic themes like religion and culture, recent years have seen anthropologists of Nepal expanding their study to deal with history, politics and the nation-state. With our access to information from trusted Nepali informants and colleagues all over the country, as well as detailed local knowledge, experienced anthropologists have something unique to contribute in this time of crisis.

Anthropological analyses of issues like conflict, state terror, trauma and political action are more necessary than ever. It is our responsibility as scholars, both Nepali and foreign, to continue contributing our skills to understanding the conflict, working for peace and rebuilding Nepali society. >> continue

Sara Shneiderman has published several articles on her research in Nepal in fulltext on her homepage at Cornell University

Sara Shneiderman, PhD candidate in anthropology at Cornell University, Anthropology News May 2005

The Problems with Chinese Anthropological Research

Published on May 5, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology (general), anthropology in the news, Asia, Us and Them

Anthroman

In China, whenever researchers refer to ethnology, it means the study of 55 ethnic groups instead of 56. That means Han is a standard, a criterion， from which the study of other 55 ethnic groups must learn. There are many famous anthropologists who have been aware of his but never speak of it. Mr. Fei Xiaotong is one of them. Chinese anthropological study will not have its own position before Chinese anthropologists realize that all 56 and other people within Chinese boundary are of equal significance in anthropological research and there is no ethnic group that should be in a position of supervision.

The evolutionary scheme another obstacle in Chinese anthropological research. If we say that people in plains are in a stage of highest civilization, these who in plateau are less civilized, and these who in mountainous areas are the least civilized or primitive and savage, we are not doing social science but constructing social science. >> continue

(inspired by Ethno::log: Fei Xiaotong dies age 94)

The New Chinese Anthropology: A View from Outside by J.S. Eades The Centre for Social Anthropology and Computing, University of Kent, UK

Anthroman

“Stone Age Tribes”, tsunami and racist evolutionism

Published on May 4, 2005 by lorenz Posted in Andaman & Nicobar societies, anthropology in the news, Asia, indigenous people / minorities, Us and Them

The belief that the so-called Western civilisation represents the final goal of human evolution, the idea that we’re on the top of the evolution is still alive – both among journalists and anthropologists as the coverage of the tsunami disaster has shown. Today, again such a story full of racist evolutionism appeared – the Daily Telegraph writes: Chief’s death brings end of Stone Age tribes a step nearer. Quote: “Some anthropologists believe that the tribes are a vital link in the chain of human evolution. They have no written script.” >> continue

SEE ALSO:
19th Century Social Evolutionism – Anthropological theories
(Department of Anthropology, University of Alabama)

The belief that the so-called Western civilisation represents the final goal of human evolution, the idea that we're on the top of the evolution is still alive - both among journalists and anthropologists as the coverage of the tsunami disaster…

New Eurozine issue on Politics of border making and (cross-)border identities

Published on May 3, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, cosmopolitanism, Europe, globalisation, Us and Them

Eurozine is a netmagazine that publishes both own texts and articles previously published in European magazines. Their new “focal point” looks very interesting. From their introduction: “Have borders become irrelevant with the project of a united Europe, which is supposed to overcome the historical divisions of the continent and the political isolation of its East? No, just the opposite. Essayists and researchers look at the dilemmas of border building and cross-border cooperation in the EU and its neighborhood. >> continue (link updated)

Eurozine is a netmagazine that publishes both own texts and articles previously published in European magazines. Their new "focal point" looks very interesting. From their introduction: "Have borders become irrelevant with the project of a united Europe, which is supposed…

New full text journal: Ecological and Environmental Anthropology

Published on May 1, 2005 by lorenz Posted in anthropology (general), anthropology in the news, ecology nature, journal articles / papers

“Time in Service to Historical Ecology” – “Roads Diverging in Yellow Woods: New Paths for Ecological and Environmental Anthropology” – “Ecology & Anthropology: A Field without Future?” are some the names of the articles in the new journal Ecological and Environmental Anthropology which is produced by the graduate students of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Georgia.

From their introduction: “We would like the journal to serve as a nexus for the free flow of ideas of scholars and practitioners in a wide range of fields, since many disciplines are both contained within, and influenced by, ecological and environmental anthropology.” This means that all articles can be read by everyone in full length! Very userfriendly are also their print-versions – both in HTML and pdf!

>> Ecological and Environmental Anthropology, Current issue 1/2005

"Time in Service to Historical Ecology" - "Roads Diverging in Yellow Woods: New Paths for Ecological and Environmental Anthropology" - "Ecology & Anthropology: A Field without Future?" are some the names of the articles in the new journal Ecological and…