The Collapse of Societies
By now, the entire world is aware of the historic and unprecedented events occurring in the United States. It seems trite to characterize these events as an aberration that will soon pass over.
Category: Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humankind, past and present, that draws and builds upon knowledge from social and biological sciences, as well as the humanities and the natural sciences. In the United States anthropology is traditionally divided into the four field approach developed by Franz Boas in the early 20th century: biological or physical anthropology, social anthropology or cultural anthropology, archaeology and linguistic anthropology. Ethnography is one of its primary methods as well as the text that is generated from anthropological fieldwork.
Agriculture in Human Evolution – by Keith Hart
In his Discourse on the Origins and Foundations of Inequality among Men (1754) Jean-Jacques Rousseau was concerned, not with individual variations in natural endowments, but with the artificial inequalities of wealth, honour and the capacity to command obedience that he derived from social convention.
Continue reading “Agriculture in Human Evolution – by Keith Hart”
The Political Economy of Food in an Unequal World-by Keith Hart
Food in a New Economic Order
What is ‘new’ about neo-liberalism? It is a world economic order based on selective freedom, on the freedom of money to move where it will (but not people, machines, products or information) and on the freedom of strong states to impose their will on the weak.
Continue reading “The Political Economy of Food in an Unequal World-by Keith Hart”
The Horror of War – Part 3
Sometime in June 1971, an incident occurred that completely changed my attitude toward the US Army. In fact, I was never the same again.
The Horror of War – Part 2
It was Christmas Eve and it just so happened that I pulled guard duty. The post I was assigned to was a 30-foot tower that stood facing toward the Bien Hoa Airport.
The Horror of War – Part 1
With all the violence in the world and the ever growing movement of mankind toward more violence, it appears there is always a war somewhere in the world.
The Virus of Violence
In the study of epidemiology, one has an opportunity to learn about communicable and non-communicable diseases.
An Anthropologist in the World Revolution – Pt. 2 by Keith Hart
As we approached the millennium, with the dotcom boom roaring away, I wanted to write a book that would sum up 30 years of teaching and point forward at the same time.
Continue reading “An Anthropologist in the World Revolution – Pt. 2 by Keith Hart”
An Anthropologist in the World Revolution – Pt. 1 by Keith Hart
Michael Wesch, an assistant professor of cultural anthropology at Kansas State University, well-known for his inspiring YouTube lectures and documentary shorts, has received over a hundred applications for his graduate course in ‘digital ethnography’ from around the world.
Continue reading “An Anthropologist in the World Revolution – Pt. 1 by Keith Hart”
The Real Race Problem – Part 2
On the eve of the one-hundred and eighth anniversary of W.E.B. Du Bois’ newspaper The Crisis, we are presenting, in its entirety, a lecture from the distinguished anthropologist, mentor and head of the Anthropology Department at Columbia University for many years – Dr. Franz Boas on the subject of the “race” problem.
The Real Race Problem – Part 1
On the eve of the one-hundred and eighth anniversary of W.E.B. Du Bois’ newspaper The Crisis, we are presenting, in its entirety, a lecture from the distinguished anthropologist, mentor and head of the Anthropology Department at Columbia University for many years – Dr. Franz Boas on the subject of the “race” problem.
The Culture of Corruption
Many of us know that political corruption is not new to the world. It is an unsavory, human practice with … Continue reading The Culture of Corruption
Teaching Anthropology in 2018
Recently, a colleague contacted me with a very interesting and specific question. At the time, I was on the road … Continue reading Teaching Anthropology in 2018
There’s Something in the Water
A recent death in the family necessitated a return to the United States after living abroad for the past ten … Continue reading There’s Something in the Water
The Struggle for Power by Keith Hart
Book Review: The Rise and Fall of Nations: Ten Rules of Change in the Post-Crisis World by Ruchir Sharma, London: … Continue reading The Struggle for Power by Keith Hart
Anthropology and the New Human Universal by Keith Hart
World society today resembles nothing so much as the eighteenth century ancient régime that Kant had every reason to believe … Continue reading Anthropology and the New Human Universal by Keith Hart
Gun Violence in American Schools
There is something terribly wrong going on in American schools today. A silent epidemic is spreading throughout the country like … Continue reading Gun Violence in American Schools
Brazil’s Dichotomous Treatment of Corruption – PT 3
Brazil had an opportunity to be a leading, democratic, Latin American country but lost its sense of direction. The political system designed to assist emerging countries grow and prosper does not work there. Instead of growing, as so many predicted it would, over the last seven years the country has fallen apart.
Continue reading “Brazil’s Dichotomous Treatment of Corruption – PT 3”
Brazil’s Dichotomous Treatment of Corruption – PT 2
After the end of the Brazilian military dictatorship, the Liberal Front Party (LFP), Democratic Social Party (PMDB) and Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB) dominated the government of Brazil. For more than 20 years, right wing and centrists autocrats controlled the government and struggled with enormous foreign debt, rampant hyperinflation, and the difficulties of transitioning to democracy.
Continue reading “Brazil’s Dichotomous Treatment of Corruption – PT 2”
Brazil’s Dichotomous Treatment of Corruption – PT 1
Brazil is a country saturated with corruption. From the small, family-owned mom and pop neighborhood grocery store to the hallowed … Continue reading Brazil’s Dichotomous Treatment of Corruption – PT 1
The Open Anthropology Cooperative: Towards an Online Public Anthropology-by Keith Hart
We attempt here to explore the relationship between anthropology, social media and public engagement through a web-based network that we … Continue reading The Open Anthropology Cooperative: Towards an Online Public Anthropology-by Keith Hart
What Anthropologists Really Do-by Keith Hart
The Summary The new anthropologist is a self-appointed people’s representative in the double sense of writing them up and acting … Continue reading What Anthropologists Really Do-by Keith Hart
Mess in the Middle East
Many people throughout the Western world do not understand what is happening in the Middle East. Much of the confusion … Continue reading Mess in the Middle East
The Second American Revolution
Well, it only took about two-hundred and forty years but the greatest fear of the writers of the Constitution of the United States has taken place. A rich, capitalist class of billionaire Americans have finally taken over the government.
Religion and Economy – Part Two-by Keith Hart
We need to understand better how we build the infrastructures of collective existence, money among them. How do meanings come to be shared and memory to transcend the minutiae of personal experience?
Continue reading “Religion and Economy – Part Two-by Keith Hart”
Perspectives in Anthropology 