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Political History Of Social Anthropology

Ralph Ellison

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Published in Difficult Folk?: A Political History Of Social Anthropology (Methodology History In Anthropology 19)

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Methodology In Anthropology 19

Social anthropology is the study of human societies and cultures, with a focus on the political, economic, and social relations that shape them. Political history is a subfield of social anthropology that examines the political institutions and processes of societies, both past and present.

The methodology of political history in social anthropology is based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Qualitative methods include participant observation, interviewing, and archival research. Quantitative methods include statistical analysis and the use of GIS data. These methods can be used to study a wide range of topics, including the evolution of political institutions, the role of political elites, and the relationship between politics and other aspects of social life.

Difficult Folk?: A Political History of Social Anthropology (Methodology History in Anthropology 19)

Difficult Folk?: A Political History of Social Anthropology (Methodology & History in Anthropology Book 19)

by David Mills

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Language	:	English
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One of the key challenges of political history in social anthropology is the need to account for the multiple perspectives that exist on any given political event or process. This is because political actors are often motivated by a variety of different factors, and their own experiences and interpretations of events will shape their accounts of what happened. To address this challenge, anthropologists must be careful to collect a wide range of data from a variety of different sources. They must also be aware of their own biases and the ways in which they might influence their research.

Another challenge of political history in social anthropology is the need to understand the long-term historical context of political events and processes. This is important because political institutions and processes are often the product of long-term historical developments, and they cannot be understood in isolation from their historical context. To address this challenge, anthropologists must be familiar with the history of the society they are studying, and they must be able to identify the key factors that have shaped its political development.

Despite the challenges, political history in social anthropology is a valuable tool for understanding the political institutions and processes of human societies. By combining qualitative and quantitative methods, and by taking into account the multiple perspectives and the long-term historical context of political events, anthropologists can gain a deep understanding of the ways in which politics shapes human societies.

Key Concepts In Political History Of Social Anthropology

Some of the key concepts in political history of social anthropology include:

Political institutions: The formal and informal structures that govern a society, including the state, the government, and the political parties.
Political processes: The ways in which power is acquired, exercised, and distributed in a society, including elections, coups, and revolutions.
Political elites: The individuals who hold the most power in a society, and the ways in which they use that power.
Political ideology: The beliefs and values that shape political action, including liberalism, conservatism, and socialism.
Political culture: The shared beliefs and values that shape the way people think about politics and their role in it.

Examples Of Political History Of Social Anthropology Research

Some examples of political history of social anthropology research include:

The study of the evolution of the state in pre-industrial societies
The study of the role of political elites in the development of capitalism
The study of the relationship between politics and religion in contemporary societies
The study of the impact of globalization on political institutions and processes
The study of the political history of specific societies, such as the United States, China, and India

Political history of social anthropology is a valuable tool for understanding the political institutions and processes of human societies. By combining qualitative and quantitative methods, and by taking into account the multiple perspectives and the long-term historical context of political events, anthropologists can gain a deep understanding of the ways in which politics shapes human societies.

References

Cohen, Ronald. "Political Anthropology: The Analysis of the Symbolism of Power Relations." Man, vol. 4, no. 1, 1969, pp. 85-104.
Evans-Pritchard, E. E. The Political System of the Nuer. Oxford University Press, 1940.
Fortes, Meyer. "The Political System of the Tallensi." The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, vol. 82, no. 1, 1952, pp. 23-51.
Gluckman, Max. Politics, Law and Ritual in Tribal Society. Basil Blackwell, 1965.
Levi-Strauss, Claude. "The Elementary Structures of Kinship." Beacon Press, 1969.
Sahlins, Marshall. Stone Age Economics. Aldine Publishing Company, 1972.
Service, Elman R. Primitive Social Organization: An Evolutionary Perspective. Random House, 1962.