Anthropology and Political Science

Myron J. Aronoff is Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Anthropology, and Jewish Studies at Rutgers University and Visiting Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Michigan. He is the recipient of the 2013 AIS-Isreael Institute Lifetime Achievement Award.

• DedicationAcknowledgementsList of TablesList of FiguresPrefaceChapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. Methods: Ethnography and Case StudyChapter 3. Beyond Political CultureChapter 4. Symbolic Dimensions of Politics: Political Ritual and CeremonialChapter 5. The Politics of Collective Identity: Contested Israeli NationalismsChapter 6. Democratization in Deeply Divided Societies: The Netherlands, India, and IsraelChapter 7. Camp David Rashomon: Contested Interpretations of the Israel/Palestine Peace ProcessChapter 8. What Can Political Scientists Learn About Civil Society From Anthropologists?Chapter 9. Homo Sovieticus and Vernacular KnowledgeChapter 10. ConclusionsBibliography

"Anthropology and Political Science does the important work of demonstrating fruitful openings in two fields of study. Political scientists have the most to gain by becoming aware of the historical specificity of their models, perhaps developing less American and ethnocentric perspectives that can index alternative futures. But anthropologists might also gain from political science approaches by being more precise and rigorous in their formulation of problems and use of concepts. Aronoff and Kubik do a real service by underscoring the importance of such dialogue."  ·  Perspectives on Politics“A person encountering the challenge of integrating anthropology and political science for the first time will find the book engaging and informative. It is a book that could profitably be used as an adjunct text in methods classes or theory classes in both anthropology and political science…[It] is a welcome addition to the conversation between these two disciplines.”  ·  Political Science Quarterly“Theoretically extremely rich…this book ranges over a wide expanse of topics and themes...the authors present an outstanding critical understanding of five different types of ethnography—traditional/positivistic, interpretivist, postmodern, global (multiple research sites) - and paraethnography…For all of its theoretical complexity, the payoff in navigating this outstanding book is well worth the effort.”  ·  Israel Studies Review“What a welcome book! Myron J. Aronoff and Jan Kubik, two erudite, widely read, and innovative scholars, have provided an insightful and much-needed map that charts the terrain linking politics and culture. This intervention into a long-standing conversation about the boundaries of the ‘political’ will stimulate students for years to come. “  ·  Ed Schatz, University of Toronto