Small Places, Large Issues: An Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology (Anthropology, Culture, and Society)

An introductory text on social and cultural anthopology, this book covers such topics as: social control and socialization; the spread of capitalism; ethnicity; the global culture; and the societal character of humans. "Small Places, Large Issues is a clear and accessible overview of social and cultural anthropology. In this thoroughly revised and updated edition, Thomas Eriksen focuses on the central topics such as kinship, ethnicity, ritual and political systems, and offers a wealth of examples that demonstrate the enormous scope of anthropology and the importance of a comparative perspective.". "Ranging from the Pacific Islands to the Arctic north and from small villages to modern nation states, this concise introduction reveals the rich global variation in social life and culture. Eriksen emphasises the need to establish interrelation between action and social structure and between social organisation and cognitive aspects of culture. He broadens the study to incorporate the anthropology of complex modern societies, thus providing a key text for all students of social and cultural anthropology."--BOOK JACKET. 1. Social Anthropology: Comparison And Context -- 2. Fieldwork And Interpretation -- 3. The Social Human -- 4. Local Organisation -- 5. Person And Society -- 6. Kinship -- 7. Marriage And Alliance -- 8. Gender And Age -- 9. Caste And Class -- 10. Politics And Power -- 11. Exchange -- 12. Production And Technology -- 13. Religion And Rituals -- 14. Modes Of Thought -- 15. The Challenge Of Multiple Traditions -- 16. Ethnicity -- 17. Nationalism And Minorities -- 18. The Local And The Global. Thomas Hylland Eriksen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.