Globalization and Anthropology

Author(s): Sekh Rahim Mondal

Source: Indian Anthropologist , July-Dec. 2007, Vol. 37, No. 2 (July-Dec. 2007), pp. 93-98
Published by: Indian Anthropological Association

Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/41920043

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Shorter Note

Globalization and Anthropology

Sekh Rahim Mondai

On the Concept of Globalization

The term globalization is of recent origin with no standard definition. It
is an ongoing and dynamic phenomenon characterized by transnational
movements of capital, labour and cultural practices. Globalization is the
result of communication through travel, trade and media. Some refer to
globalization as the currents of trade, finance, culture, ideas and people
brought about by sophisticated communication technology, modern travel
and the world wide spread of neoliberalism i.e. the idea that trade should
be unfettered by Government's regulations. Some people regard
"globalization of culture" or the emergence of "global culture" as "cultural
imperialism" and equated it with Americanization and Westernization of
culture. While some others see globalization as an impetus to keep cultural
traditions alive as increasing access and exposure to media is helping to
create more awareness about cultural diversity.

Anthropology of Globalization - An Emerging Field in the Discipline

Globalization has opened the world challenging the traditional
boundedness of communities, say tribes, peasants, castes, localities and
villages that had characterized anthropological research in the past. A
crucial aspect of the global-local nexus is one of unpredictable interaction
and creative adaptation to new situations. The focus of interest in
globalization studies are nations, transnationalities, diasporas, refugees,
identities, ethnicities, gender differences and culture itself.

Contemporary anthropology is much concerned with the emerging issues

of global-local interactions; say migration, development, identities and so
on. The global-local interactions are also represented by studies on tribes,
peasants and workers who work in global factories, transnational homes
etc. Now a days it is rather impossible to discuss a "community" without
discussing its multiple identities and socio-cultural processes, say
migration, gender, and development issues. In globalization studies fluidity
and hybridity of culture are increasingly being highlighted.

SEKH RAHIM MONDAL, Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of

North Bengal, Daijeeling, Email: rahim_anthnbu@yahoo.co.in

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94 GLOBALIZATION AND ANTHROPOLOGY

Some questions that

(1) what are the objec
world? (2) What are t
globalization for th
experience and inte
accommodate or resis
make a place for the
1995; Lewellen, 2002;

Transforming Concep
With the increasing
remain no longer the
caution. It is neithe
internally uniform e
people earlier had been
corporate bodies and
cultural attributes. T
particular territory ap

A large number com

detached from the lo
dilution in the distin
globalization the core
on local identities an
culture of a place. Hen
in orientation in exami
globalization and new

The typical anthro

community are also g
variations are minimi
are increasing day by
analytical constructs
replaced by national
anthropologists are i
cope with the changing

The contemporary r
static concept of com
extends outward in t
threatens the tribal so
very difficult to get t
This does not mean th
amidst forces of loca
with the new situation.

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Indian Anthropologist (2007) 37:2, 93-98 95

Similar is the case of peasants. The role of peasants i

is ambiguous and varies from region to region and country
the producing end, most peasants are engaged to
transnational agricultural markets, either as workers on la
as small producers of export crops. While on the rece
production and employment are controlled by invisible
supply and demand. Thus the surviving peasants nowad
'post peasant' and 'global peasant' (Joseph, 1998; Lewel
The search for uncontaminated cultures of so-called prim
communities was given up as futile exercise during th
(1945-1980) of the growth of the discipline. But the intere
work at a distant place and on indigenous communities
'authentic' cultures continues even today. Long-term, in
in a village community continues to be an ideal in anth
But in the era of globalization it is rather difficult to con
site of field work as a coherent entity.

Traditionally the 'village' and 'community' have bee

analysis in anthropology. Today the very notion of the 'co
seriously questioned due to varieties of responses and
through the forces of globalization. New associations
cross communities are being formed in various places irres
national, ethnic caste, class and gender affiliations, say
cyber space. New village like settlements are day by d
urban areas, likewise rural settlements have developed
These are devoid of history and the people living there
motivated by 'We' feeling owing to lack of deep kinsh
bondages. The village, as well as communities formed th
spheres and these are steadily getting devoid of distin
practices.

The conventional field work conducted in a village or a locality is

rather inadequate in comprehending the nature and impact of national and
transnational phenomena. Ethnographic field studies within and across the
field sites are considered very essential in the study of anthropology of
globalization. The boundaries of field work sites are becoming very
flexible, dynamic and contested. The linkages of field sites with the
external universe (global world) needs to be traced out in order to
understand the complex socio-economic changes that are being taking
place among the people who live in the field places. For example, the study
of Indian diaspora communities living in various foreign countries will not
be complete without understanding their linkages between the native places
and the areas where they are settled now.

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96 GLOBALIZATION AND ANTHROPOLOGY

Similarly in the triba

implementation of v
government and inte
understand the socio-c
villages it is necessary
programmes, the policie
of the people about th
study of development
targeted subjects are bo
field studies.

Some of the contemp

the static concept of
concept of 'field' as it
work is considered ess
field work for more th
interviews for a numb
energy. Language flue
people who scattered o
team research of colla
different aspects of a
of research may be co
people relate to a single
nations.

Though now field sit

traditional anthropolo
what is very important
in anthropological fiel
circumstances.

It is no longer necessary for an anthropologist to make repeated or

follow up field visits. With modern communication techniques, field
research need not end when the anthropologists leaves the field. It is now
both inexpensive as well as easy to maintain field contacts through some
key informants and via letter, telephone, email, and other modern
technologies. While field work based on participant observation
undoubtedly remains an important method in social and cultural
anthropology, it is being viewed today as one method among others field
work process. This is especially true for anthropology of 21st century as it
is interested not only in bounded community but also to migrating groups
like refugees, diasporas, disaster victims, persons affected by communal or
ethnic riots, and civilians in war. Today there is a need to extend
anthropological studies to accidental communities/groups where people are
briefly united by traumatic events. Rather than being joined by culture or

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Indian Anthropologist (2007) 37:2, 93-98 91

class, such affected persons are bounded by temporar

intensity of shared experience.

An attempt is also made by the anthropologists to trace

power and polity that moved back and forth between
structures. (Abbi and Suberwal, 1969; Ahmed, 1987;
Joseph, 1998; Kearney, 1995; Kuper, 1983; Lewellen, 2
1992; Rao, 2002; Truillot, 2001). In a global world, anth
be more than what it has been. A wide range of data ga
and analytical tools need to be improvised by the anthr
exploitation new areas of enquiries. Along with the cha
subjects and methods, there has also been a change in th
data. The contextualization and analysis of field data has sh
to regional and then to national and finally to global on
forces within the group the level of analysis has shifted t
high level structures, their causes and consequence
structures are constructed in a planned way and these
ways of living, which the people either adopted or re
level.

There has been an increased awareness among the peo

and misuse of anthropological field studies. In this chan
the anthropologists do not want to conduct their field stu
hungry persons seeking data for self interest, but to e
participant observation in real sense of the term, in which
and the observed would equally participate and contribute

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98 GLOBALIZATION AND ANTHROPOLOGY

References

Abbi, B. and S. Saberwal (ed.) 1969. Urgent Research in Social Antrhopology.

Simla: Indian Institute of Advanced Studies.

Ahmed, S. Akbar. 1987. Towards Islamic Anthropology. Lahore: Vanguard.

Appadurai, A. 1996. Modernity at Large : Cultural Dimensions of Globalization.

Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

Joseph S. 1998. Interrogating Culture. New Delhi: Sage Publications.

Kearney, M. 1995. "The Local and the Global: The Anthropology of Globalization
and Transnationalism," Annual Review of Anthropology, 24:547-565.

Kuper, A. 1983. Anthropology and Anthropologists. London: Routledge and

Kegan Paul.

Lewellen, Ted. C. 2002. The Anthropology of Globalization. London: Bergin and

Garvey.

Rao, P.V. 2002. "Globalization and Anthropology: Issues and Challenges," The
Eastern Anthropologist, 55(l):25-37.

Robertson, R. 1992. Globalization Social Theory and Global Culture. London:

Sage Publications.

Truillot, M.R. 2001. "The Anthropology of the State in the Age of Globalization:
Close Encounter of the Deceptive Kind," Current Anthropology, 42(1): 125-
138.

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