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Identity Destabilised

Living in an Overheated World

Elisabeth Schober editor Thomas Hylland Eriksen editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Pluto Press

Published:20th Oct '16

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Identity Destabilised cover

This insightful collection of essays explores the shifting nature of identity in a rapidly changing world, as discussed in Identity Destabilised.

In Identity Destabilised, a compelling collection of ethnographic essays, the authors delve into the complexities of social identities in the Anthropocene. This era, characterized by humanity's profound impact on the planet, presents a world that is overheated, filled with contradictions, and marked by rapid globalization. The essays explore how these dynamics shape identities and communities, revealing the tensions that arise when borders blur and cultural contexts shift. How can individuals maintain a stable sense of self amid such constant change?

The book examines a diverse range of perspectives from various regions, including the Philippines, Israel, Australia, the Cape Verde Islands, and Afghanistan. Each chapter provides ethnographically rich insights into how identity is influenced by contemporary forces, such as industrialization, migration, and the commodification of culture. These essays invite readers to consider the paradoxes of belonging in an increasingly interconnected yet fragmented world.

Through the lens of anthropology, Identity Destabilised challenges us to rethink our understanding of community and identity. It poses critical questions about the survival of indigenous cultures and the impact of neoliberalism on personal and collective identities. This collection not only highlights the struggles faced by communities but also emphasizes the resilience and adaptability of individuals as they navigate the complexities of modern life.

'This provocative and ethnographically diverse volume illuminates the complexities that shape attempts to reconcile social belonging and self-consciousness in today's world' -- Noel Dyck, Professor of Social Anthropology, Simon Fraser University
'Accelerated change may be a general characteristic of human life today, but the diverse and multi-facetted studies in this volume nevertheless document a significant variety of perceptions, reflections and agency in response to this volatile situation' -- Karen Fog Olwig, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Copenhagen, co-editor of Climate Change and Human Mobility: Challenges to the Social Sciences (Cambridge University Press, 2012)
'A powerful book ... already a benchmark classic of its discipline' -- Manchester Review of Books

ISBN: 9780745399126

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 344g

272 pages