Ethnicity and Nationalism: Anthropological Perspectives (Anthropology, Culture and Society) [Paperback]

Prof. Thomas Hylland Eriksen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0745318878 | ISBN-13: 978-0745318875 | Publication Date: August 21, 2002 | Edition: Second Edition

Ethnicity and nationalism are pervasive features of the contemporary world, but how far is ethnicity a result of cultural differences, and how much is it in fact dependent on the practical use of, and belief in, such differences? In this book, Thomas Hylland Eriksen demonstrates that far from being an immutable property of groups, ethnicity is a dynamic and shifting aspect of social relationships. Drawing on a wide range of classic and recent studies in anthropology and sociology, Eriksen examines the relationship between ethnicity, class, gender and nationhood, as well as current issues of racism, globalisation and multiculturalism. Influential theories are presented and critically compared in a lucid and comprehensive manner. A core text for all students of social anthropology and related subjects, Ethnicity and Nationalism has been a leading introduction to the field since its original publication in 1993. This new edition - expanded and thoroughly revised - is indispensable to anyone seriously interested in understanding ethnic phenomena. New chapters cover recent studies of migration, cultural creolisation, racism, gender and nationalism, and the dilemmas of multiculturalism.

Editorial Reviews

Review

‘As a introduction to the study of ethnicity, [this] book will do excellently.’ --Ethnologia Scandinavica

About the Author

Thomas Hylland Eriksen is Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Oslo. He is the author of numerous books on anthropological issues, including Small Places, Large Issues and Tyranny of the Moment, both available from Pluto Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Pluto Press; Second Edition edition (August 21, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745318878
• ISBN-13: 978-0745318875
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,156 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars dry but informative, August 8, 2000

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ethnicity and Nationalism (Paperback)

The author, a Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Oslo, has written a clear and concise book about ethnicity and nationalism from an anthropological perspective. Written in a very dry style, however, this book is not recommended as an introduction to nationalism for non-anthropologists, especially since Eriksen likes to draw on his own experiences in Mauritius and Norway a bit too much. Instead, this is a good introduction to anthropological debates about nationalism.

Eriksen is succssful in pointing out the constructive and fluid nature of ethnic and national identities: he shows how ethnicity is not an inherent property but merely an aspect of a relationship. Nonetheless, he argues, we should not therefore discount the importance of ethnicity or nationhood to those who hold it dear. He also addresses typical anthropological issues like kinship and argues for more efforts from anthropologists in studying the past to help create a better understanding of ethnicity and nationalism.

Finally, Eriksen manages to spend an equal amount of time on ethnicity and nationalism, something very rare in the literature.

All in all, a good book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First-Rate, July 13, 2004

By 

Brian Siegel (Greenville, SC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ethnicity and Nationalism: Anthropological Perspectives (Anthropology, Culture and Society) (Paperback)

A first-rate introduction to the anthropological study of ethnicity, using illustrations from the Zambian Copperbelt, Peru, and Mauritius. Great discussions of Barth and Abner Cohen, but very little of Geertz or, most unfortunately, Daniel Bell. Ethnic identities are "fluid, negotiable, situational, analogic (or gradualist) and segmentary [i.e., nested]." Ethnicity doesn't explain everything, but is often a powerful analytic tool. Eriksen does anthropology proud.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly informative, November 6, 2001

By 

D. David Bew (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ethnicity and Nationalism (Paperback)

Eriksen blends both historical and recent contributions to the subject, then adds his own analysis. His writing style is clear and concise and his analysis is very carefully reasoned - a refreshing change from much of the social science literature. The work is more thorough on ethnicity than nationalism, but serves as a good starting point for more reading on the latter. This is an academic work, but suitable for any student of social science, and certainly anyone that has taken an introductory anthropology course.