Abstract

The idea for this volume came to us some years ago. Our aim was to produce a set of synoptic studies of topics in socio-cultural anthropology that would combine the expression of personal perspectives with some general coverage of significant themes. We approached scholars whose work was known to us and we broached a broad range of themes that could be handled. In practice, contributions on all of these could not be secured, but a substantial coverage has nevertheless been achieved. The intention is, then, to be informative, illustrative, and pertinent without a goal of encyclopedic scope. Our contributors have provided us with thoughtful and fruitful ways of thinking about numbers of contemporary and long-standing arenas of work where both established and more recent researchers are engaged.