Engaging Anthropological Theory

Mark Moberg is Professor of Anthropology at the University of South Alabama, USA, and has many years' experience of teaching anthropological theory. His books include Slipping Away: Banana Politics and Fair Trade in the Eastern Caribbean (Berghahn 2008).

"Moberg does a masterful job of weaving together historical context, anthropological theory, and present-day issues and sensibilities. Rather than standing at a critical distance and taking potshots at our disciplinary ancestors, Moberg shows students clearly how anthropology's ideas and theoretical stances have arisen out of, and made sense within, their historical and geographical contexts. His style is engaging, readable, and often laugh-out-loud funny. How often can one say that about a theory textbook?" - Julie Adkins, University of Texas at Arlington, USA"While other textbooks on anthropological theory give token accounts of the socio-political influences and historical contexts that produced `ruling ideas’ on the nature of society and the origins of cultural diversity, these processes are the central focus of Moberg’s unique analysis. Moving beyond biographical sketches and historical vignettes, the book is a lively exploration of how `paradigms and politics’ of the past and present inform anthropological thought." - William L. Alexander, University of North Carolina Wilmington, USA“From the beginning of Engaging Anthropological Theory, Moberg directly addresses an audience of freshman students in a motivating way, conveying a strong sense of identification with the discipline…The whole book brings the history of anthropological thought to life. It becomes clear from the very first page that this is not a typical theory textbook, as each chapter is peppered with the author’s personal anecdotes and experiences.” - David Parduhn, University of Hamburg, Germany

• 1. Of Politics and Paradigms 2. Claims and Critiques of Anthropological Knowledge 3. The Prehistory of Anthropology 4. Marx 5. Durkheim and Weber 6. Spencer, Darwin, and an Evolutionary Parable for Our Time 7. Boas and the Demise of Cultural Evolution 8. Culture and Psychology 9. Structure and Function 10. Decolonization and Anti-Structure 11. Ecological and Neo-Evolutionary Approaches 12. Contemporary Materialist and Ecological Approaches 13. Symbols, Structures, and the "Web of Significance" 14. Postmodern Political Economy and Sensibilities 15. The Contemporary Anthropological Moment