The anthropological study of globalization - Towards an agenda for the second phase

Journal/Book: Anthropos. 1998; 93: Editions St-Paul, Perolles 42, CH-1700 Fibourg, Switzerland. Anthropos Inst. 495-506.

Abstract: A number of indicators suggest that within the last decade, globalization has become a mainstream topic within anthropology. This article sketches the development leading to this state of affairs and summarizes the research findings of the pioneer phase. Subsequently, a number of topics for further inquiry are outlined. It is argued that the mapping of global cultural distributions and flows is still at an impressionistic stage and should be supplemented by systematic procedures. These will lead to a more differentiated assessment of global cultural homogenization, the possibility of which is dismissed rather light-handedly by many anthropologists. Likewise, cultural exchanges that circumvent ''the West'' have not yet received sufficient attention, and a cross-culturally valid notion of modernity may be of help in conceptualizing these. Furthermore, the resilience of kinship in globalization-affected societies and the question whether humanity is gaining or losing in the globalization process call for further investigation.

Note: Review Brumann C, Univ Cologne, Inst Volkerkunde, Albertus Magnus Platz, D-50923 Cologne, GERMANY

Keyword(s): globalization; world system; modernity; cultural change; CULTURAL-INVENTION; WORLD; MAORI; AUTHENTICITY; ETHNOGRAPHY; IDENTITY; POLITICS; DILEMMA; THINGS; SYSTEM

Zurück | Weiter