Ethnicity and Nationalism [Paperback]

Thomas Hylland Eriksen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0745307019 | ISBN-13: 978-0745307015 | Publication Date: December 1, 1993

This work provides a systematic examination of anthropological research on the critical issue of ethnicity. Chapters cover all aspects of ethnicity, including: approaches to ethnicity, social classification, the social organization of ethnicity, ethnic identity and ideology, ethnicity and social change, minorities and nationalism and ethnicity.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This is a delightful book. The volume is well structured and written in clear and accessible language; it will not be at all surprising if it becomes a major teaching aid and textbook in the field.' Ephraim Nimni, School of Political Science, University of New South Wales '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, also published by Pluto Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 140 pages
• Publisher: Pluto Press (December 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745307019
• ISBN-13: 978-0745307015
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,767,992 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
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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.