G. Gunn reviews the book "Lao peasants under socialism" by Grant Evans. Gunn notes that Evans broaches a relatively traditional study of Lao peasant anthropology with the household as the unit of analysis, but, moving beyond ethnography per se, he (Evans) also makes important statements on the wider dimensions of peasant-state relations and human nature as well as engaging broader debates on anthropological theory. (DÜI-Sen)
Introduction -- History of anthropology -- The major branches of anthropology -- World anthropology -- Special fields of anthropology -- Conclusion -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Index
What is anthropology? -- Research methods in anthropology -- Genetics and evolution -- Human variation and adaptation -- Primates: past and present -- The first hominins -- The origins of culture and the emergence of homo -- The emergence of homo sapiens -- The upper Paleolithic world -- Origins of food production and settled life -- Origins of cities and states -- Culture and culture change -- Culture and the individual -- Communication and language -- Getting food -- Economic systems -- Social stratification: class, ethnicity, and racism -- Sex and gender -- Marriage and the family -- Marital residence and kinship -- Associations and interest groups -- Political life: social order and disorder -- Religion and magic -- The arts -- Health and illness -- Practicing and applying anthropology
The viewpoint of a soc & cultural anthrop'st is presented in an overview on this discipline's approach to development. 3 terms & 2 spheres of scholarly activity are noted as important: the terms of 'growth,' 'performance,' & 'development;' & the spheres of macro-analysis of soc processes & empirical field studies. Some development propositions of general currency are considered, eg, that development implies change involving new objectives, ideas, methods, forms of relationship, that nat'lism is detrimental to some development, that the structure of developed countries may affect the position of developing countries, etc. In this context, the contributions of anthrop to the role of educ'al policy, sci'fic & technological policies, COMM, & cultural policy are reviewed. It can be most useful in the analysis of the most appropriate, or optimal, development strategy & in promoting development action by assessing the most effective way of creating particular projects & the results & ramifications of these projects. 3 recommendations are made: improve the supply of indigenous anthrop'ts in developing countries & ensure the recognition of their contribution in U's & gov service; call upon anthrop'ts in developed countries to orient their work in developing countries toward providing maximum support for the growth of sci in the countries concerned; & create an interdisciplinary profession of development advisers who do not have to know everything in one given discipline, but something about several disciplines. Soc sci'ts should devise an interdisciplinary curriculum for training such SE advisers. M. Maxfield.
