Full Description
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.
Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgements
List of Tables
List of Figures
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
