Routledge Regional Culture and Economic Development: Explorations in European Ethnology (Progress in European Ethnology)

Product Description From an interdisciplinary perspective based primarily on European ethnology and political economy, this book explores issues and concepts concerning the link between culture and economy. A historical introduction to key theoretical problems is followed by five empirical chapters discussing aspects of development in rural as well as urban locations. The author considers local leadership, looking in particular at part-time farming, counter-urban migration, and pluriactivity. The classification of informal economy is illustrated with examples drawn from fieldwork, and urban poverty and migration are each explored in detail. A discussion of heritage and identity as a resource for development questions whether the concern with the authenticity of culture(s) may be an inappropriate approach to take. The book concludes with a theoretical reflection on the problematic of culture and economy and a call for a return to the roots of European ethnology as an essentially political science. Review 'Conceptualizing a European ethnology requires differentiated local knowledge on the numerous national ethnologies, their histories, institutional situations, relationships to state and society, and their comparative aspirations. The parallel yet divergent histories assembled here assist in generating the kind of reflexivity needed as we work toward an intellectually shared sense of European ethnology and presents information researched by local ethnologists to a wider readership.' Regina Bendix, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany 'Edited by three of the leading voices in European ethnology today, this challenging book brings together an impressive team of international contributors to explore the the dynamics of Europe's regional ethnologies. Deploying carefully chosen case studies, the volume illuminates key issues of everyday life In Europe. It will be welcomed by all with an interest in European ethnology, past, present and future.' Philip Payton, University of Exeter, UK About the Author Ullrich Kockel, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK