The Anthropology Of Latin America And The Caribbean

The first single-authored comprehensive introduction to major contemporary research trends, issues, and debates on the anthropology of Latin America and the Caribbean. The text provides wide and historically informed coverage of key facets of Latin American and Caribbean societies and their cultural and historical development as well as the roles of power and inequality. Cymeme Howe, Visiting Assistant Professor of Cornell University writes, “The text moves well and builds over time, paying close attention to balancing both the Caribbean and Latin America as geographic regions, Spanish and non-Spanish speaking countries, and historical and contemporary issues in the field. I found the geographic breadth to be especially impressive.” Jeffrey W. Mantz of California State University, Stanislaus, notes that the contents “reflect the insights of an anthropologist who knows Latin America intimately and extensively.”

Featuring 47 essays on recent developments in Latin America and in anthropology, this anthology discusses the image and reality of the region, the basic principles and practices of anthropology, traditional and modern cultures, identity and ethnicity, relations of power, and worldviews. Selections were chosen in part for their accessibility; jargon is kept to a minimum. A bibliographic essay is included. There is no index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This edited collection brings together the latest research on discourse and society in Latin America and Caribbean in one volume. Employing cross-cutting approaches to current political, institutional and media discourses, it bridges existing theoretical and analytical gaps between the socio-political macro issues and the micro aspects of linguistic analysis to provide fresh insights that deconstruct the complex socio-political power dynamics in Latin America and the Caribbean. Across eight chapters this volume explores the regions’ thorny relationship with their complex histories of colonialism and slavery as well as the ongoing, multifaceted constructions of hegemonic and counter-hegemonic identities at the individual, regional and national levels. In doing so, it demonstrates the unique and rich particularities of these regions and why it is that they challenge many conventional dogmas and methods across the Social Sciences. This book will be of particular interest to scholars working in Discourse Studies, Sociology, Politics, Anthropology and Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

Ethnographic Insights on Latin America and the Caribbean offers a compelling introduction to the region by providing a series of ethnographic case studies that examine the most pressing issues communities are facing today. These case studies address key topics such as inequities during the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Black racism, resistance against extractive industries, migration and transnational families, revitalization of Indigenous languages, art and solidarity in the wake of political violence, resilience in the face of climate change, and recent social movements. Designed for courses in a variety of disciplines, this expansive volume is organized in thematic sections, with introductions that draw important connections between chapters. The first section provides essential background on ethnography, archaeology, and history, while chapters in the following sections center local perspectives, strategies, and voices. Each chapter ends with reflection and discussion questions, key concepts with definitions, and resources to explore further. Presenting a snapshot of life during the early decades of the twenty-first century, Ethnographic Insights on Latin America and the Caribbean illuminates the structural forces and human agency that are determining the future of the region and the world.

This book offers anthropological insights into disasters in Latin America. It fills a gap in the literature by bringing together national and regional perspectives in the study of disasters. The book essentially explores the emergence and development of anthropological studies of disasters. It adopts a methodological approach based on ethnography, participant observation, and field research to assess the social and historical constructions of disasters and how these are perceived by people of a certain region. This regional perspective helps assess long-term dynamics, regional capacities, and regional-global interactions on disaster sites. With chapters written by prominent Latin American anthropologists, this book also considers the role of the state and other nongovernmental organizations in managing disasters and the specific conditions of each country, relative to a greater or lesser incidence of disastrous events. Globalizing the existing literature on disasters with a focus on Latin America, this book offers multidisciplinary insights that will be of interest to academics and students of geography, anthropology, sociology, and political science.

In this volume an international group of anthropologists and historians examines the complex relationships between family life, culture, and economic change in Latin America and the Caribbean. Dissatisfied with interpretations based on European experience

Perspectives on Las Américas: A Reader in Culture, History, and Representation charts new territory by demonstrating the limits of neatly demarcating the regions of ‘Latin America’ and the ‘United States’. This landmark volume presents key readings that collectively examine the historical, cultural, economic, and political integration of Latina/os across the Americas, thereby challenging the barriers between Latina/o Studies and Latin American/Caribbean Studies. Brings together key readings that collectively examine the historical, cultural, economic, and political integration of Latina/os across the Americas. Charts new territory by demonstrating the limits of neatly demarcating the regions of 'Latin America' and the 'United States'. Challenges the barriers between Latina/o Studies and Latin American/Caribbean Studies as approached by anthropologists, historians, and other scholars. Offers instructors, students, and interested readers both the theoretical tools and case studies necessary to rethink transnational realities and identities.