Customer Reviews

The Anthropology of Globalization: A Reader (Blackwell Readers in Anthropology)

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I disagree with the other reviewers. The study of anthropology often creates more questions than answers--that is why the field intrigues me. As for the reviewer wanting a simpler treatment of the subject... Fine in theory, but globalization is COMPLEX. The introduction of the book offers some themes to observe and asserts that 1) Globalization is not only about passive receivers of global imperialism. 2) Global ideas and products flow in many ways (not just core to the periphery). 3) Many circuits of globalization circumvent the west (or global north). The subsequent chapters then follow these threads.

I come from a critical background (i.e. that globalization is evil), but the examples in the book show that not all aspects of globalization are troubling. As for Appadurai and invention of words... keep giving the chapter another read. The man is simply (complexly?) a beautiful writer.

Characteristic of this reader is the bothersome overlap of topics. It dramatically fails to give insight in theories of globalization itself and the link between these theories and global reality. After studying this reader even experienced students of Anthropology will give anything for something that is less grandiloquent and more useful because of it's simplicity.