Modes of Comparison: Theory and Practice (The Comparative Studies in Society and History Book Series)

In Modes of Comparison: Theory and Practice , the contributors highlight how theoretical problems have brought forth new ideas on comparison and how comparison has become pivotal in the human sciences. Many of the chapters in this interdisciplinary volume update landmark essays from the journal Comparative Studies in Society and History . Each of the essays questions a number of critical and contemporary issues in history, sociology, and anthropology as they relate to various ideas of comparison. The authors set out comparative projects, discuss the difficulties of identifying baseline processes, and reflect on the contemporary challenges of organizing their analyses in ways that are both methodologically responsible and theoretically compelling. "As a sign that the Zeitgeist may be changing Yengoyan has brought together a stimulating set of articles that demonstrate the strategic importance of comparison for the humanities and social sciences." —Melford Spiro, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego "The best of the best: conceptually inspired and deftly edited comparative studies from the multidisciplinary journal that calls the field." —Michael Lambek, London School of Economics "Essays on theory, exemplary applications, fresh discoveries, classic articles—a rich collection on comparative study. Each piece is a gem." —Thomas R. Trautmann, Professor of History and Anthropology, University of Michigan "Through rich and provocative explorations integrating anthropology and history, Modes of Comparison challenges localist biases and offers exciting new directions." —Jane H. Hill, Regents' Professor of Anthropology and Linguistics, University of Arizona "A splendid review of the uses of comparison in history and anthropology. A wide variety of vivid case examples is illuminated by a broad range of general principles." —Clifford Geertz, School of Social Science, Institute for Advanced Study Aram A. Yengoyan is Professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Davis. From The History Of Mentalities To Anthropological History / André Burguière -- Regulation Theory, Post-marxism, And The Transition From The New Social Movements To Anti-globalization And The Far Right / George Steinmetz -- The Case For Comparing Histories / Raymond Grew -- On Rereading An Earlier Essay / Raymond Grew -- Comparison And Its Discontents / Aram A. Yengoyan -- Frazer, Leach, And Virgil : The Popularity (and Unpopularity) Of The Golden Bough / Mary Beard -- Cowries And Conquest: Toward A Subalternate Quality Theory Of Money / Chris Gregory -- Cowries And Conquest : Prelude To A Postscript / Chris Gregory -- Global Violence And Nationalizing Wars In Eurasia And America : The Geopolitics Of War In The Mid-nineteenth Century / Michael Geyer And Charles Bright -- Postscript: On Regional Transformation, Globalization, And War, With Some Afterthoughts On Comparative And Global History / Charles Bright And Michael Geyer -- Testing Paradigms With Comparative Perspectives : British India And Patterns Of Scientific And Technology Transfer In The Age Of European Global Hegemony / Michael Adas -- Race, Ethnicity, Species, And Breed : Totemism And Horse-breed Classification In America / John Borneman -- Postscript : Reflections On Totemism Tomorrow: Horse Breeds And Breeding In The United States And France / John Borneman -- The Cities Of Avignon And Worms As Expressions Of European Community, 1945-1975 / Beverly Heckart -- Flowers And Bones : Approaches To The Dead In Anglo-american And Italian Cemeteries / Jack Goody And Cesare Poppi -- Flowers And Bones: Posthumous Reflections / Cesare Poppi. Aram A. Yengoyan, Editor. Includes Bibliographical References. From the history of mentalities to anthropological history / André Burguière Regulation theory, post-Marxism, and the transition from the new social movements to anti-globalization and the far right / George Steinmetz The case for comparing histories / Raymond Grew On rereading an earlier essay / Raymond Grew Comparison and its discontents / Aram Yengoyan Frazer, Leach, and Virgil: the popularity (and unpopularity) of The Golden Bough / Mary Beard ; Afterword / Mary Beard Cowries and conquest: toward a subalternate quality theory of money / Chris Gregory Cowries and conquest: prelude to a postscript / Chris Gregory Global violence and nationalizing wars in Eurasia and America: the geopolitics of war in the mid-nineteenth century / Michael Geyer and Charles Bright Postscript: on regional transformation, globalization, and war, with some afterthoughts on comparative and global history / Charles Bright and Michael Geyer Testing paradigms with comparative perspectives: British India and patterns of scientific and technology transfer in the age of European global hegemony / Michael Adas Race, ethnicity, species, and breed: totemism and horse-breed classification in America / John Borneman Postscript: reflections on totemism tomorrow: horse breeds and breeding in the United States / France John Borneman The cities of Avignon and Worms as expressions of European community, 1945-1975 / Beverly Heckart Flowers and bones: approaches to the dead in Anglo-American and Italian cemeteries / Jack Goody and Cesare Poppi Flowers and bones: posthumous reflections / Cesare Poppi.