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Ethnographies of Power

A Political Anthropology of Energy

Simone Abram editor Tristan Loloum editor Nathalie Ortar editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Berghahn Books

Published:9th Jun '23

Should be back in stock very soon

Ethnographies of Power cover

This insightful book examines the relationship between energy infrastructures and political power, revealing how they shape modern governance and societal dynamics. Ethnographies of Power provides a critical lens on these issues.

Energy-related infrastructures play a vital role in shaping political organization, influencing the dynamics of states, international bodies, corporations, and communities. These infrastructures not only define material existence but also frame collective fears and aspirations for the future. In Ethnographies of Power, a collection of ethnographic studies, the intricate relationship between energy and political power is explored, shedding light on the contemporary entanglements that define our world.

The book revisits classic anthropological concepts of power, examining how evolving energy infrastructures contribute to the consolidation, extension, or subversion of modern political regimes. By analyzing various case studies, it uncovers the ways in which energy influences political landscapes, revealing insights about the nature of power and governance in today's society. The authors delve into the implications of energy transitions, highlighting the socio-political consequences that arise from shifts in energy production and consumption.

Through its comprehensive approach, Ethnographies of Power offers a critical perspective on the intersection of energy and politics. It invites readers to consider how energy infrastructures not only support existing power structures but also have the potential to challenge and transform them. This exploration leads to a deeper understanding of the complexities of contemporary politics and the role that energy plays in shaping our futures.

“Together, the chapters demonstrate that ‘[e]nergy, is at once, personal, collective and political, an experienced reality and a total social fact’, as Leo Coleman puts it in a brilliant Afterword. Ethnographies of Power is a timely and welcome addition to the growing corpus on energy in the social sciences. It will be of interest to students and scholars in anthropology, science and technology studies, and energy studies.”• Anthropos

“The volume raises important questions as to what new economic disciplines are being cultivated in the name of energy security or climatological necessity and those regions and peoples who are sacrificed in the pursuit of ‘clean’ energy production. Usefully, all the chapters are available through Berghahn’s Open Access collection, and the discussions here would be useful to those interested in the study of energy and society, infrastructure, speculation and the state.”• Anthropology Book Forum

“The strengths of the collection lie primarily in the papers’ rich ethnographic examination of the everyday politics engendered by state-initiated and/or directed energy flows and extractions – on existing, typically rural practices with their own temporality and logics.”• Thomas F. Love, Linfield College

ISBN: 9781800739352

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

212 pages