CHOICE OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR 2005
Despite the growth of interest in the history of anthropology as a over
the last two decades, surprisingly little has been published in English
on the development of anthropology in East and Southeast Asia and its
relationship to the rest of the academic "world-system." The
anthropological experience in this region has been varied. Japanese
anthropology developed early, and ranks second only to that of the
United States in terms of size. Anthropology in China has finally
recovered from the experience of invasion, war, and revolution, and now
flourishes both on the mainland and in Taiwan. Scholars in Korea,
Malaysia, and the Philippines have also attempted to break with the
legacy of colonialism and develop research relevant to their own
national needs.
This book includes accounts of these developments by some of the most
distinguished scholars in the region. Also discussed are issues of
language, authorship, and audience; and the effects these have on
writing by anthropologists, whether "native" or "foreign." The book will
be invaluable to anyone with an interest in the anthropology of East and
Southeast Asia or the development of anthropology as a global
discipline.