Routledge Ethnology, Myth and Politics: Anthropologizing Croatian Ethnology (Progress in European Ethnology)

The book offers a critical overview of Croatian ethnology written by the most prominent Croatian ethnologist/ anthropologist in the second half of the 20th century - Dunja Rihtman-Augustin (recently deceased). She was the first Croatian ethnologist to break with the long established tradition of diffusionist (culture area) studies of her contemporaries and start to anthropologize Croatian ethnology. This book, compiled and completed by Jasna Capo Zmegac, highlights some crucial remarks with regard to the relationship between ethnology and politics. They are formulated as a series of research questions and problems, including: the role of folk culture as mythomoteur, cannonization of the folk culture, nationalization of the peasants in the 19th century and the role of ethnology. This vividly written text offers an exceptional insight into Croatian ethnological developments in the past century, as well as into crucial ruptures in Croatian society which have had important repercussions on ethnological discipline. Review ’This book should be included on a list of readings for any graduate student in anthropology or political science anticipating research in Croatia.’ Slavic Review '...presents a wonderful insight into Croatian ethnology and anthropology...the essays are brilliant exercises in historical sketches combined with Rihtman-Augustin's impressive knowledge.' Anthropos - International Review of Anthropology and Linguistics About the Author Dunja Rihtman-Augustin, Professor, originally a journalist, was the head of the Institute of Folk Art in Zagreb from 1972-1986 and President of the Croatian Ethnological Society.