Fredrik Barth: An Intellectual Biography (Anthropology, Culture & Society)

"Fredrik Barth is one of the towering figures of twentieth-century anthropology. In a career spanning six decades, Barth first made his mark with a study of ecological relationships among ethnic groups in Swat (Pakistan), followed by studies of political and economic systems in Pakistan and Iran, emphasising the role of agency and social process rather than structure and function. He later carried out fieldwork in western Norway, New Guinea, Oman, Bali and Bhutan, and his voracious appetite for fieldwork as a means to intellectual development is the key to understanding his thought and contributions to anthropology. This intellectual history traces the development of Barth's ideas and explores the substance of his contributions. In so doing, it is also makes a major contribution to the history of anthropology, raising questions to do with the unity and diversity of humanity, cultural relativism and anthropology as a hybrid activity 'between art and science', seen through the lens of one of its most distinguished practitioners. Written in a wonderfully accessible style, Thomas Hylland Eriksen's biographical study reveals the magic of ethnography to professional anthropologists and non-practitioners alike."-- Page 4 de la couverture Fredrik Barth Is One Of The Towering Figures Of Twentieth-century Anthropology. This Intellectual History Traces The Development Of Barth's Ideas And Explores The Substance Of His Contributions. In An Accessible Style, Thomas Eriksen's Biographical Study Reveals The Magic Of Ethnography To Professional Anthropologists And Non-practitioners Alike. Exploring His Six Decade Career, It Follows Barth From Early Ecological Studies In Pakistan, To Political Studies In Iran, To Groundbreaking Fieldwork In Norway, New Guinea, Bali And Bhutan. Eriksen Argues That Barth's Voracious Appetite For Fieldwork Holds The Key To Understanding His Remarkable Intellectual Development And The Insights It Produced. The Book Raises Many Of The Same Questions That Emerge From Barth's Own Work - Of Unity And Diversity, Of Culture And Relativism, Of Art And Science. Thomas Eriksen Is Himself A Major Contributor To The Study Of Anthropology, As Well As A Distinguished Educator, And Is Therefore Ideally Placed To Introduce The Life And Work Of Fredrik Barth. This Will Surely Be The Definitive Book On Its Subject For Many Years To Come. Fredrik Barth is one of the towering figures of twentieth-century anthropology. This intellectual history traces the development of Barth's ideas and explores the substance of his contributions. In an accessible style, Thomas Hylland Eriksen's biographical study reveals the magic of ethnography to professional anthropologists and non-practitioners alike.

Exploring his six decade career, it follows Barth from early ecological studies in Pakistan, to political studies in Iran, to groundbreaking fieldwork in Norway, New Guinea, Bali and Bhutan. Eriksen argues that Barth's voracious appetite for fieldwork holds the key to understanding his remarkable intellectual development and the insights it produced. The book raises many of the same questions that emerge from Barth's own work - of unity and diversity, of culture and relativism, of art and science. Fredrik Barth, editor of the influential Ethnic Groups and Boundaries , is one of the towering figures of twentieth-century anthropology. In this accessible but penetrating intellectual biography, Thomas Hylland Eriksen explores Barth’s six-decade career, following Barth from his early ecological studies in Pakistan to political studies in Iran, to groundbreaking fieldwork in Norway, New Guinea, Bali, and Bhutan. Along the way, Eriksen raises many of the questions that emerge from Barth’s own questions of unity and diversity, of culture and relativism, and of art and science. This will surely be the definitive biography of Barth for many years to come. "Fredrik Barth, editor of the influential Ethnic Groups and Boundaries, is one of the towering figures of twentieth-century anthropology. In this accessible but penetrating intellectual biography, Thomas Hylland Eriksen explores Barth’s six-decade career, following Barth from his early ecological studies in Pakistan to political studies in Iran, to groundbreaking fieldwork in Norway, New Guinea, Bali, and Bhutan. Along the way, Eriksen raises many of the questions that emerge from Barth’s own work: questions of unity and diversity, of culture and relativism, and of art and science." --From publisher's description A definitive biography of Fredrik Barth, one of the leading lights of anthropology, by one of today's finest anthropologists.