Wiley-Blackwell Anthropologies of Modernity: Foucault, Governmentality, and Life Politics

This book brings together a range of anthropological writings that are inspired by the French philosopher Michel Foucault and examine Foucault’s contribution to current theories of modernity. Treats modernity as an ethnographic object by focusing on its concrete manifestations. Tackles issues of broad interest: from colonialism and globalization to war, genetics, and AIDS. Draws on work from North and South America, Europe, Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. Contributors include James Ferguson, Akhil Gupta, Aihwa Ong, Paul Rabinow, and Rayna Rapp. Review “This is one of the best collections of its kind. Written by leading anthropologists, this volume takes up Foucault’s challenge to modern knowledge and significantly expands the discourse on our current cultural and epistemological predicament.” Bill Maurer, University of California, Irvine “Ranging across colonialism, globalization, technoscience, biosociality, and necropolitics, each gem in this superbly integrated collection demonstrates how anthropologists inspired by Foucault’s ideas about modern government can transcend his Eurocentrism while building on his original provocations.” John Gledhill, University of Manchester From the Inside Flap Anthropologies of Modernity brings together a range of anthropological writings inspired by the French philosopher Michel Foucault - specifically by his work on governmentality and biopower. It considers Foucault’s contribution to current theories of modernity and treats modernity as an ethnographic object by focusing on its concrete manifestations. Authored by some of the foremost writers in anthropology, these essays explore modern government as a field of thought and action. They examine the multiplicity of authorities, bodies of knowledge, strategies, and technologies involved in governing the biological and social life of the human. Their analysis is articulated around diverse phenomena, from colonialism and globalization to war, genetics, and AIDS; and they cover an array of geographic sites, from Brazil and French Guiana to Italy, Ukraine, and India. The volume thereby provides an overview of how anthropologists have engaged with Foucault and how Foucault has transformed anthropological theorizing. From the Back Cover Anthropologies of Modernity brings together a range of anthropological writings inspired by the French philosopher Michel Foucault - specifically by his work on governmentality and biopower. It considers Foucault’s contribution to current theories of modernity and treats modernity as an ethnographic object by focusing on its concrete manifestations. Authored by some of the foremost writers in anthropology, these essays explore modern government as a field of thought and action. They examine the multiplicity of authorities, bodies of knowledge, strategies, and technologies involved in governing the biological and social life of the human. Their analysis is articulated around diverse phenomena, from colonialism and globalization to war, genetics, and AIDS; and they cover an array of geographic sites, from Brazil and French Guiana to Italy, Ukraine, and India. The volume thereby provides an overview of how anthropologists have engaged with Foucault and how Foucault has transformed anthropological theorizing. About the Author Jonathan Xavier Inda teaches anthropology and global cultural studies in the Department of Chicana/o Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Among his previous publications are the co-edited volumes Race, Identity and Citizenship (Blackwell Publishing, 1999) and The Anthropology of Globalization (Blackwell Publishing, 2002).