Politics and Kinship: A Reader

Politics and Kinship: A Reader provides a unique overview of the entanglement of these two categories in both theoretical debates and everyday practices. It challenges the epistemological separation of politics and kinship and offers a critical critique of its shortcomings for teaching and research. The book is an essential resource for researchers, instructors, and students of anthropology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 290 pages
Publication date: 16 December 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Politics and Kinship: A Reader provides a distinctive exploration of the intricate relationship between these two categories in both theoretical debates and everyday practices. Despite facing numerous challenges, it is commonly believed that these two spheres have become increasingly distinct as a result of modernisation. This book delves into the process by which the notion of separation between politics and kinship is idealised and translated into various contexts, shedding light on its epistemological limitations. By combining otherwise distinct lines of discussion within political anthropology and kinship studies, the selection of texts encompasses a wide range of intersecting topics, ranging from military strategy, DNA testing, and child fostering to practices of kinning the state.

The first part of this volume examines how the separation of politics from kinship came to be perceived as a 'modern phenomenon,' with significant implications. The second part begins with kinship, showcasing how it was transformed into a distinct and apolitical field, an idea that would soon spread and be translated globally into policies. The third part focuses on reproductions through various transmissions and future-making projects.

Overall, this volume offers a fundamental critique of the epistemological separation of politics and kinship and its limitations for teaching and research. With contributions from a diverse range of regional, temporal, and theoretical backgrounds, it facilitates critical engagement with knowledge production about the entanglement of politics and kinship.

The diverse traditions and contemporary approaches represented in this book make it an invaluable resource for researchers, instructors, and students of anthropology.

Weight: 556g
Dimension: 175 x 244 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367408718