The Anthropological Field on the Margins of Europe, 1945-1991

Book excerpt: The social lives of the peoples of the Balkans have long stimulated the imaginations of their northern European neighbors. These peoples and places have anthropological traditions of their own, shaped initially by nationalist movements and, later, by socialism and other political constraints. From an anthropological perspective, this book explores the region between Greece and Slovenia, when political pressures were strongest in the era of the Cold War. Yet, the environments were by no means uniformly repressive. The study provides indispensable insights for new generations pursuing innovative research agendas in this region in the new century. It raises deeper issues about the boundaries and substance of the anthropological endeavor. (Series: Halle Studies in the Anthropology of Eurasia - Vol. 29)