Other Histories (European Association of Social Anthropologists) - Hardcover

The historization of anthropology has entailed a radically new view upon history and the nature of history. This collection of papers from the first conference of the newly formed European Association of Social Anthropologists demonstrate how ways of thinking about history are important features of any production of history, and how cultural concepts enter as forcs of historical causation.

Other Histories explores the nature of history and assesses its position within social anthropology. In recent years the historical dimension of other cultures has become an integrated part of any anthropological inquiry, while the different ways of producing history have themselves become a sphere of interest within anthropology itself. Using historical and ethnographic material, the contributors to this book focus on the historical scene in Europe to show how cultural concepts act as forces of historical causation. By analysing and dismantling what has previously been seen as the unity and progress of European history they emphasize the interdependence of culture and history and establish a radically new view of history itself.