Blackwell Reference Online

A Companion to the Anthropology of Politics offers an unprecedented overview of the field, written by a breathtaking roster of contemporary scholars. This ambitious resource explores the key concepts and issues of our time – from AIDS, globalization, displacement, militarization, and neoliberalism to identity politics and beyond – in the words of the very individuals who have contributed to the development of this important field.

Each author reflects on concepts and issues that have shaped the anthropology of politics and concludes with thoughts on and challenges for the way ahead. The Companion as a whole is written in an accessible manner, although each chapter is crafted in its author's own unique style. At the heart of the volume lies anthropology's distinctive genre: ethnography.

Offering a comprehensive understanding of anthropology's unique contribution to the study of politics, A Companion to the Anthropology of Politics will set a new benchmark for the field and will undoubtedly spur students and scholars to new heights in the decades to come.