Bøker i Anthropology, Culture and Society-serien

An edited collection which contains unusual and global case studies providing a Marxist analysis of the commodification of life

This original ethnographic study looks at how children are 'civilised' within child institutions, such as schools, day care centres and families, under the auspices of the welfare state.*BR* *BR*As part of a general discussion on civilising projects and the role of state institutions, the authors focus on Denmark, a country characterised by the extent of time children use in public institutions from an early age. They look at the extraordinary amount of attention and effort put into the process of upbringing by the state, as well as the widespread co-operation in this by parents across the social spectrum.*BR* *BR*Taking as its point of departure the sociologist Norbert Elias' concept of civilising, Children of the Welfare State explores the ideals of civilised conduct expressed through institutional upbringing and examine how children of different age, gender, ethnicity and social backgrounds experience and react to these norms and efforts. The analysis demonstrates that welfare state institutions, though characterised by a strong egalitarian ideal, create distinctions between social groups, teach children about moral hierarchies in society and prompts them to identify as more or less civilised citizens of the state.

An anthropological study of the privatisation and political economy of modern fishing

A comparative ethnography of the responses on the ground to austerity policies in Southern Europe

A non-Eurocentric, interdisciplinary collection arguing that boundaries and borders are best understood as overlapping categories.

Based on over ten years experience working in the industry, this is an expose of the gambling business.

Explores the contemporary repercussions of the Macedonian Question, which has long been at the heart of Balkan politics.

A global anthropology of technology and politics, from WikiLeaks to Podemos.

A comparative ethnography of the responses on the ground to austerity policies in Southern Europe

Contributors explore the interconnectedness of culture and creativity in an increasingly hybrid world

Fair trade is widely regarded as a universal good. This fascinating anthropological study takes a closer look at a coffee-growing community and cooperatives in Costa Rica - and subjects the fair trade movement to critical scrutiny. *BR**BR*As with conventional coffee, Western demand for organic fair trade produce is largely met by more affluent individuals with larger landholdings. As a result, it is caught up in the conflicts of interest and resentments that are part of the coffee industry as a whole. Ultimately fair trade fails to escape divisions that characterise other forms of production and consumption.*BR**BR*All growers are united in their criticism of the high margins accumulated by regional and transnational processors and exporters. Sustainability, just rewards and social cohesion have formed part of the world view of these agricultural communities for decades. This book shows how there is much common ground between the worlds of the commodity grower and the priorities of the fair trade movement - if not necessarily always in the ways we might suppose.

How do India's 'untouchables' and 'tribals' fit into the global economy?

This book travels to the heart of power, inequality and injustice in water politics. Drawing on extensive ethnographic fieldwork in Peru, Astrid B. Stensrud explores the impact of climate change and extractivist neoliberal policies - including Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a global paradigm that views water as a finite resource in need of management.Engaging with the many different actors and entities participating in the constitution of the watershed - from engineers, bureaucrats and farmers, to mountains, springs and canals - Stensrud shines light on different yet entangled water practices and water worlds and how both the watershed and our understanding of water itself have changed.Challenging hegemonic understandings, the book moves beyond conventional perspectives of political ecology and political economy to achieve a decolonial perspective.

An anthropological study of the impact of cash grants on the economic dynamics and relationships among Kenya's urban poor

A comparative, ethnographic approach to the question of labour struggles and workers' political agency

"Contains precious insights into what made David Graeber the most innovative social thinker of our time, and why the legacy of his ideas will inspire projects of emancipation for generations" - David Wengrow, Professor, University College London, co-author with David Graeber of The Dawn of Everything"A must-read for anyone who believes in the power of academia as activism" - Sophie Chao, University of SydneyDavid Graeber (1961-2020) was an American anthropologist and anarchist activist who left us with new ways to understand humankind. His writings picked apart political power and social hierarchy to reveal what makes human society tick.As If Already Free collects his most important insights in one book, showing how his writing resonates today for activists looking to shake things up, and explaining how his powerful and accessible ideas can be applied to a wide range of topics, from birth to banking.In today's neoliberal world, we can turn to Graeber's legacy to provide a way for us to understand what went wrong, and how to fix it. This collection is both an introduction to his life and works, a guide to his key ideas, and an inspiring example of how anthropologists are continuing to use his work today.Holly High is an Associate Professor at Deakin University, Australia. She has written two books, Fields of Desire and Projectland. Joshua O. Reno is a Professor at Binghamton University, US. A socio-cultural anthropologist, he is the author of Waste Away, Military Waste and co-author of Imagining the Heartland.

'A new and compelling argument for why so many institutions continue to be spellbound by rankings and metrics - despite the cultural carnage they cause. How can we halt this "death by audit"? The authors develop a radical agenda that will strike fear into number-loving technocrats around the world' Peter Fleming, author of Dark Academia: How Universities Die'A powerful and definitive critical diagnosis of the effects of audit culture on individuals, organisations and society. Essential reading' Michael Power, Professor, LSE'A visionary book' Marilyn Strathern, Emeritus Professor, University of CambridgeAll aspects of our work and private lives are increasingly measured and managed. But how has this 'audit culture' arisen and what kind of a world is it producing? Cris Shore and Susan Wright provide a timely account of the rise of the new industries of accounting, enumeration and ranking from an anthropological perspective. Audit Culture is the first book to systematically document and analyse these phenomena and their implications for democracy. The book explores how audit culture operates across a wide range of fields, including health, higher education, NGOs, finance, the automobile industry and the military. The authors build a powerful critique of contemporary public sector management in an age of neoliberal market-making, privatisation and outsourcing. They conclude by offering ideas about how to reverse its damaging effects on communities, and restore the democratic accountability that audit culture is systematically undermining.Cris Shore is Emeritus Professor of Social Anthropology at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Research Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study, Central European University. One of his recent publications is The Shapeshifting Crown. Susan Wright is Professor of Educational Anthropology at Aarhus University, Denmark. One of her recent books is Enacting the University. Together they are co-editors of the Stanford Anthropology of Policy book series.