Anthropological Methodologies: Chinese Perspectives

Tongxue, Tan; Hale, Matthew A.

This book addresses the pressing challenges of the twenty-first century—an era marked by crises and uncertainty—by advocating for anthropology’s vital role in fostering compassionate intercultural dialogue and promoting harmonious coexistence between humanity and the non-human world. Through a collection of thought-provoking essays, it explores how non-Western perspectives, particularly Chinese methodologies, can enrich anthropological practice and help transcend the limitations imposed by Western-centric paradigms. Rather than replacing one form of ethnocentrism with another, the book calls for a more balanced and inclusive conversation across cultures.

Within this framework, anthropology is reimagined not merely as the interpretation or writing of culture, but as an active process of cultural communication, negotiation, and reconciliation. True intercultural understanding, the book argues, can only be achieved when diverse cultural subjects engage in dialogue on equal footing—making the “doing” of anthropology a collaborative and transformative endeavor.

Details

Published by: Palgrave Macmillan

Publication Date: 2026-01-11

Format: Hardcover

ISBN-13: 9789819531165

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-95-3117-2

Dimensions: 210cm x148cm

Pages: 221