Anthropology at the Dawn of the Cold War: The Influence of Foundations, Mccarthyism, and the (Anthropology, Culture and Society) [Paperback]

Dustin M. Wax (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0745325866 | ISBN-13: 978-0745325866 | Publication Date: January 20, 2008

This book breaks new ground in the history of anthropology, opening up an explicit examination of anthropology in the Cold War era. With historical distance, Cold War anthropology has begun to emerge as a distinct field within the discipline. This book brings a number of different approaches to bear on the questions raised by anthropology's Cold War history. The contributors show how anthropologists became both tools and victims of the Cold War state during the rise of the United States in the post-War period. Examining the intersection between science and power, this book is a compelling read for anthropologists, historians, sociologists, and anyone interested in the way in which colonial and neo-colonial knowledge is produced and constructed.

Editorial Reviews

Review

For Marxist anthropologists this book is a valuable insight into the baggage that materialism carries within the discipline.[...] For others interested in Marxist theory and history it is a fascinating study in the political nature of ideas, and the terrible consequences of mechanical and deterministic approaches to Marxism. -- Penny Howard

About the Author

Dustin M. Wax teaches anthropology and women’s studies at the College of Southern Nevada and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Pluto Press (January 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745325866
• ISBN-13: 978-0745325866
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,048,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dustin M. Wax is a cultural anthropologist and writer. He currently teaches anthropology and Women's Studies at both the community college and university levels. His research interests include the history of anthropology, Cold War history, Native American cultures, gender roles and sexual identity, and the representation of culture and identity in scientific literature, museums, and the mass media. He has also been active in attempts to use the Internet to improve and broaden research and education, and is a founding contributor to the anthropology site Savage Minds (www.savageminds.org), selected as one of the 20 Best Science Blogs by Nature in 2006. He is also a contributing editor at the personal productivity site lifehack.org, where he writes about writing, learning, studying, project management, technology, and other topics in personal development.