Anthropology and Political Science : : A Convergent Approach / / Myron J. Aronoff, Jan Kubik.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter Berghahn Books Complete eBook-Package 2000-2013
• VerfasserIn: Aronoff, Myron J.,; Kubik, Jan,
• Place / Publishing House: New York; , Oxford : : Berghahn Books, , [2012]; ©2012
• Year of Publication: 2012
• Language: English
• Series: Anthropology & . ; 3
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (368 p.)

What can anthropology and political science learn from each other? The authors argue that collaboration, particularly in the area of concepts and methodologies, is tremendously beneficial for both disciplines, though they also deal with some troubling aspects of the relationship. Focusing on the influence of anthropology on political science, the book examines the basic assumptions the practitioners of each discipline make about the nature of social and political reality, compares some of the key concepts each field employs, and provides an extensive review of the basic methods of research that “bridge” both disciplines: ethnography and case study. Through ethnography (participant observation), reliance on extended case studies, and the use of “anthropological” concepts and sensibilities, a greater understanding of some of the most challenging issues of the day can be gained. For example, political anthropology challenges the illusion of the “autonomy of the political” assumed by political science to characterize so-called modern societies. Several chapters include a cross-disciplinary analysis of key concepts and issues: political culture, political ritual, the politics of collective identity, democratization in divided societies, conflict resolution, civil society, and the politics of post-Communist transformations.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- CONTENTS -- TABLES -- FIGURES -- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -- PREFACE -- Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION -- Chapter 2 METHODS Ethnography and Case Study -- Chapter 3 BEYOND POLITICAL CULTURE -- Chapter 4 SYMBOLIC DIMENSIONS OF POLITICS Political Ritual and Ceremonial -- Chapter 5 THE POLITICS OF COLLECTIVE IDENTITY Contested Israeli Nationalisms -- Chapter 6 DEMOCRATIZATION IN DEEPLY DIVIDED SOCIETIES The Netherlands, India, and Israel -- Chapter 7 CAMP DAVID RASHOMON Contested Interpretations of the Israel/Palestine Peace Process -- Chapter 8 WHAT CAN POLITICAL SCIENTISTS LEARN ABOUT CIVIL SOCIETY FROM ANTHROPOLOGISTS? -- Chapter 9 HOMO SOVIETICUS AND VERNACULAR KNOWLEDGE -- Chapter 10 CONCLUSIONS -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- NAME INDEX -- SUBJECT INDEX