Toward a People's Anthropology

by Fei Hsiao Tung

Genres: Anthropology

121 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several short chapters about anthropology and in particular the ethnic minorities of China. Five stars for the passion of the author to apply anthropology for the benefit of the peoples he writes about. Four stars for Fei's stature as an intellectual and as a redoubtable servant to his nation despite being left out in the cold for decades by revolutionary madness. Three stars for his superb grasp of English and smooth, authoritative style. Two stars for uncritical conceptual captivity to a Marxist paradigm in anthropology. One star for being a mouthpiece (willing or unwilling, knowingly or in a state of self-delusion) for simple propaganda about the benevolent socialist state and its care for the poor, backward minorities. The myths are powerful, but no less mythical.