Culture in Chaos : An Anthropology of the Social Condition in War

Fought in the wake of a decade of armed struggle against colonialism, the Mozambican civil war lasted from 1977 to 1992, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives while displacing millions more. As conflicts across the globe span decades and generations, Stephen C. Lubkemann suggests that we need a fresh perspective on war when it becomes the context for normal life rather than an exceptional event that disrupts it. __Culture in Chaos__ calls for a new point of departure in the ethnography of war that investigates how the inhabitants of war zones live under trying new conditions and how culture and social relations are transformed as a result. Lubkemann focuses on how Ndau social networks were fragmented by wartime displacement and the profound effect this had on gender relations. Demonstrating how wartime migration and post-conflict return were shaped by social struggles and interests that had little to do with the larger political reasons for the war, Lubkemann contests the assumption that wartime migration is always involuntary. His critical reexamination of displacement and his engagement with broader theories of agency and social change will be of interest to anthropologists, political scientists, historians, and demographers, and to anyone who works in a war zone or with refugees and migrants. Fought In The Wake Of A Decade Of Armed Struggle Against Colonialism, The Mozambican Civil War Lasted From 1977 To 1992, Claiming Hundreds Of Thousands Of Lives While Displacing Millions More. As Conflicts Across The Globe Span Decades And Generations, Stephen C. Lubkemann Suggests That We Need A Fresh Perspective On War When It Becomes The Context For Normal Life Rather Than An Exceptional Event That Disrupts It. Culture In Chaos Calls For A New Point Of Departure In The Ethnography Of War That Investigates How The Inhabitants Of War Zones Live Under Trying New Conditions And How Culture And Social Relations Are Transformed As A Result. Lubkemann Focuses On How Ndau Social Networks Were Fragmented By Wartime Displacement And The Profound Effect This Had On Gender Relations. Demonstrating How Wartime Migration And Post-conflict Return Were Shaped By Social Struggles And Interests That Had Little To Do With The Larger Political Reasons For The War, Lubkemann Contests The Assumption That Wartime Migration Is Always Involuntary. His Critical Reexamination Of Displacement And His Engagement With Broader Theories Of Agency And Social Change Will Be Of Interest To Anthropologists, Political Scientists, Historians, And Demographers, And To Anyone Who Works In A War Zone Or With Refugees And Migrants.--page 4 Of Cover. Introduction: The Ordering Of Violent Things : War And Displacement -- Contending With Colonialism : Migration And Resistance -- Other Struggles : Migration And The Transformation Of Social Relations -- Imposing The New Mozambique : Sowing The Seeds Of Postcolonial Disillusion -- Society And The State : Mutual Misrecognition At The Gathering Of War -- Prosecuting Life By Other Means : The Social Logic Of Violence In A Fragmented War -- Terrains Of Displacement : War-time Mobility And Immobility -- Tambem Aqui Fazemos Amor : Living In War -- Postconflict Displacements : The Social Problematics Of Refugee Return -- Transnational Contentions : The Moral Economy Of Postconflict Migration -- Where To Be An Ancestor? : The Struggle For The Postconflict Social Imagination. Stephen C. Lubkemann. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [361]-391) And Index.

fought In The Wake Of A Decade Of Armed Struggle Against Colonialism, The Mozambican Civil War Lasted From 1977 To 1992, Claiming Hundreds Of Thousands Of Lives While Displacing Millions More. As Conflicts Across The Globe Span Decades And Generations, Stephen C. Lubkemann Suggests That We Need A Fresh Perspective On War When It Becomes The Context For Normal Life Rather Than An Exceptional Event That Disrupts It. culture In Chaos Calls For A New Point Of Departure In The Ethnography Of War That Investigates How The Inhabitants Of War Zones Live Under Trying New Conditions And How Culture And Social Relations Are Transformed As A Result.

lubkemann Focuses On How Ndau Social Networks Were Fragmented By Wartime Displacement And The Profound Effect This Had On Gender Relations. Demonstrating How Wartime Migration And Post-conflict Return Were Shaped By Social Struggles And Interests That Had Little To Do With The Larger Political Reasons For The War, Lubkemann Contests The Assumption That Wartime Migration Is Always Involuntary. His Critical Reexamination Of Displacement And His Engagement With Broader Theories Of Agency And Social Change Will Be Of Interest To Anthropologists, Political Scientists, Historians, And Demographers, And To Anyone Who Works In A War Zone Or With Refugees And Migrants.

journal Of Anthropological Research

a Major Contribution To The Debate On The War In Mozambique, But Also More Generally On Violent Conflicts And Migration Flows In Africa And Beyond.