Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology (Paradigm)

This is an important book. I've bought copies for about 5 different people already. One of the most insidious aspects of capitalism is that it suppresses our ability to imagine alternatives to calitalism. How many people do you know who will accept that we will destroy the planet this century but won't accept that they can live under any economic system other than the one that is destroying the planet? This book will help you see alternatives.

Much in the vein of The Dawn of Everything, but more compact and efficient. Delivers on the idea that a better world is possible.

Bought this right after David Graeber passed. So sad that we lost this amazing thinker. This short pieces is a good introduction to some of the ideas that he unpacks in more depth in other works. Quick and dirty intro to anarchist theory and why it is needed in anthropology, academia in general, and the world at-large.

Best known for his book 'Debt: The First 5,000 Years,' and a leading figure in the 'Occupy Wallstreet' movement, Anarchist and Anthropologist David Graeber in 'Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology,' attempts to tackle several themes. First, he calls for historical revisionism, illustrating through various examples how the western sense of history is flawed; that democracy pre-dated Athens, and communities can exist without state means of control, in contrast to Thomas Hobbes. Furthermore, he seeks to de-construct theories of the state and capitalism.He continues with a discourse on Anarchist thought. The philosophy of Anarchism was first formulated by Pierre Joseph Proudhon, and Mikhail Bakunin, among others. Basic principles of Anarchism include autonomy, voluntary association, self determination and self organization, mutual aid, and democracy. As Mr. Graeber illustrates, traditional non-state societies demonstrate these principles.Mr. Graeber notes that this puts anthropology in a position to both research and expand on Anarchist principles. He illustrates how anthropologists such as Marcel Mauss, James Frazer, and Pierre Clastres contributed to Anarchist thought through their insights on traditional societies, research on gift economies, consensus decision making, leveling mechanisms, homeostatic mechanisms in indigenous societies, and traditional forms of opposition to power (including nonviolent methods of resistance).Anthropology's past is part of what keeps it from embracing Anarchist principles. The discipline started out aligned with colonialist institutions which sponsored research on the colonized in order to administer them more effectively. Anthropology has steadily adopted more populist principles, yet Mr. Graeber feels that the field should fully embrace the principles of Anarchism in order to carry out the needed research to verify the aims of Anarchist philosophy.Areas of research that Mr. Graeber feels needs addressed includes research on knowledge and power, hierarchy, alienation, the state, and traditional forms of organization that are not states. He concludes with several principles that Anarchists should address in response to globalization; these include an immediate amnesty on international debt, cancellation of intellectual property rights over a year old, freedom of movement across borders, and the elimination of radical inequalities.Considering Mr. Graeber's arguments, I am disappointed with the format of the kindle edition. It seems like Mr. Graeber jumps from point to point and at times it is not easy to follow his train of thought. I don't know whether that is due to Mr. Graeber's writing style or is a result of the kindle format.The ideas are intriguing though. As Mr. Graeber illustrates through his research in Madagascar during periods when the state ceases to function, communities do maintain themselves through self organization. Other examples of this include frontier societies and labor exchanges such as 'barn raising.' Although self organization may never be a complete guarantee against the rise of the power hungry 'alpha male,' it can place limits on their rise to power.I do agree with some of the critique of a previous review that pointed out differences between delayed return societies and immediate return societies. There is a link between power and the amount of possessions that one accumulates. However, those wishing to pursue this line of inquiry should also look into value systems. In contemporary societies prestige is based on what one accumulates, whereas in many indigenous societies such as the Pacific Northwest (reknown for their potlatch) prestige was based on what could be given away. This illustrates that there is a value difference too between societies and the question to entertain is whether a 'gift' value system could be resurrected within contemporary societies? Seeking to recover this value system may further the Anarchist agenda that Graeber espouses.

It's amazing that more academics aren't reading or empathizing with this sort of perspective, openly at least. Graeber admits that academic budgets don't operate in the same mode of thinking as the social sciences would best fit--but that's the point! Everyone in the social sciences should read at least some excerpts of this to stop the endless window-dressing!I myself have been to five academic conferences and indefinitely put off moving onto grad school because of it!

It's not often that my mind gets changed completely on a subject. But Graeber has a way of doing that to me. His book "Debt, the First 5,000 Years" also realigned my thinking on a lot of matters.

Great little book. I like almost everything David Graeber writes. I would recommend this to any student of anthropology for consideration.

This concise book explores the academy's exclusion of anarchism...and gives a great argument for the use of myth, monsters and folk tales for self-regulating communities.

Um livro ousado com importantes provocações intelectuais, inspirador para acadêmicos e ativistas.

Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology is an essay by the late David Graeber which seeks to confront the issue of anthropology in the academy and its somewhat conflicted relationship with anarchism. In a thought-provoking read of just over one-hundred pages, Graeber provides the reader with an informative background into the foundations of both anthropology and anarchism, why the two have had difficulty intersecting but why fundamentally he believes it may provide the means for us to progress in our thinking not just about modern day issues but also the questions about what makes us fundamentally all human.A rousing miniature manifesto for an "Anarchist Anthropology", this work is a must-read for all in the social sciences who are serious about confronting some of the worlds modern challenges, and for those who believe in a globalist, post-nation future.

Short (only about 100 pages) but incredibly interesting. Highly recommended.

頭が良い人らしく、あっちこっちで同時に考えているような文章が多く、その都度読みながら、スマホで固有事象を調べながら、乾燥スルメイカを食べるように読みました。本来はやさしい筈の文章ですが、飛ばし読みは出来ません。

Book arrived on time and s4store was always attentive and caring.Also, this book is eye opening.