Introduction to Two Theories of Social Anthropology

Robert Parkin is a Departmental Lecturer in Social Anthropology at the University of Oxford. He has a longstanding interest in the anthropology of kinship, represented by Kinship: an Introduction to Basic Concepts (1997) and Kinship and Family: n Anthropological Reader (2004, edited with Linda Stone). He has also published a full-length study of Dumont in the same Berghahn series (Louis Dumont and hierarchical opposition, 2003).

• Editor’s IntroductionPrefacePreface to the Tel EditionPART I: KINSHIP IN THE WORK OF RADCLIFFE-BROWNA. What is Kinship?Chapter 1. Notes and QueriesChapter 2. Radcliffe-BrownB. The Meaning of 'Kinship System'Chapter 3. The PrincipleChapter 4. Characteristics of 'Kinship Systems' according to Radcliffe-BrownChapter 5. Sketch of a Theory of 'Systems'Chapter 6. The Different Aspects of KinshipChapter 7. The Nature of Kinship: A Recent DiscussionC. Interpersonal Relations and 'Structural Principles'Chapter 8. Interpersonal Relations: Terminology and BehaviourChapter 9. Radcliffe-Brown’s 'Structural Principles'Chapter 10. The Main Principle: DescentPART II: THE THEORY OG UNILINEAL DESCENT GROUPSD. Before The NuerChapter 11. Descent according to RiversChapter 12. 'Descent' and 'Succession' in Radcliffe-BrownChapter 13. Unilineal Descent and Other Modes of DescentE. Evans-Pritchard: The NuerChapter 14. The Nuer: Structural RelativityChapter 15. The Nuer: Political System and Lineage SystemChapter 16. The Nuer: Clarifications and ExplanationsChapter 17. The Nuer: Mode of Correspondence between the Political System and the Lineage SystemChapter 18. The Idea of Structure in The NuerF. After The NuerChapter 19. Meyer FortesChapter 20. Jack GoodyPART III: THE THEORY OF MARRIAGE ALLIANCEG. Lévi-Strauss: Elementary StructuresChapter 21. IntroductionChapter 22. Elementary Structures: General Outline of the Restricted TheoryChapter 23. Systems with Global Formulas: AustraliaChapter 24. Definitions: Restricted Exchange and Generalised Exchange; Harmony and DisharmonyChapter 25. Cross-Cousin Marriage: Bilateral FormChapter 26. Cross-Cousin Marriage: Matrilateral FormChapter 27. Cross-Cousin Marriage: Patrilateral FormChapter 28. Cross-Cousin Marriage and Kinship TerminologyChapter 29. Conclusion: The Contribution of Elementary StructuresH. After Elementary StructuresChapter 30. Local and Global Points of View(a) Exogamous Unit and ‘Exchange’ Unit(b) Intermarriage in a Circle(c) Oriented Intermarriage and ‘Hypergamy’Chapter 31. Prescription and Preference: Patrilateral MarriageChapter 32. Social Integration and Mental IntegrationBasic BibliographyOther References in TextIndex