,A ,FEW ,WORDS BY ,WAY ( ,9TRODUCTION 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,DAVID ,GRAEB] 

,TEXT 3 

,A ,FEW ,WORDS BY ,WAY ( ,9TRODUCTION 

  

,:5 ,I ORIG9ALLY SET \T TO WRITE ?IS BOOK1 ! GOALS ,I HAD 9 M9D W]E RELATIVELY MODE/4 ,I WAS 9T]E/$1 FIR/ ( ALL1 9 MAK+ A CONTRIBUTION TO AN?ROPOLOGICAL !ORIES ( VALUE4 

,MANY AN?ROPOLOGI/S HAVE LONG FELT WE REALLY %\LD HAVE A !ORY ( VALUE3 ?AT IS1 ONE ?AT SEEKS TO MOVE FROM UND]/&+ H[ DIFF]5T CULTURES DEF9E ! WORLD 9 RADICALLY DIFF]5T WAYS 7:I* AN?ROPOLOGI/S HAVE ALWAYS BE5 GOOD AT DESCRIB+7 TO H[1 AT ! SAME TIME1 !Y DEF9E :AT IS BEAUTIFUL1 OR WOR?:ILE1 OR IMPORTANT AB\T IT4 ,TO SEE H[ MEAN+1 ONE MI<T SAY1 TURNS 9TO DESIRE4 ,TO BE ABLE TO DO SO PROMISES TO RESOLVE A LOT ( NOTORI\SLY ?ORNY PROBLEMS NOT ONLY 9 AN?ROPOLOGY BUT ALSO 9 SOCIAL SCI5CE MORE G5]ALLY4 ,I WANT$ TO SEE IF ,I C\LD MAP \T AT LEA/ ! \TL9ES ( SU* A !ORY & ALSO1 TO RELATE !M TO C]TA9 IDEAS AB\T WEAL? & P[] & ! NATURE ( MONEY ?AT ,I HAD FIR/ SET \T 9 AN ESSAY SEV]AL YE>S BE=E 7,GRAEB] #a#i#i#f74 

,9 ! C\RSE ( WRIT+1 H[EV]1 SOME?+ />T$ HAPP5+4 ,! MORE ,I WROTE1 ! MORE ,I WAS =C$ TO CONFRONT ! FACT ?AT MY [N ASSUMPTIONS & PRIORITIES W]E 9 MANY WAYS DIAMETRICALLY OPPOS$ TO MU* ( :AT N[ /&S AS COMMON WISDOM 9 ! SOCIAL SCI5CES--OR AT LEA/ ?OSE DISCIPL9ES 7SOCIOLOGY1 AN?ROPOLOGY1 HI/ORY1 CULTURAL /UDIES1 ETC47 ?AT SEE !MSELVES AS MO/ POLITICALLY 5GAG$4 ,AS ,I F\ND MYSELF 9CREAS+LY OBLIG$ TO CL>IFY PO9TS ( DIFF]5CE1 ,I REALIZ$ ! BOOK WAS TURN+ 9TO SOME?+ MU* MORE AMBITI\S3 9 SOME WAYS1 IT WAS ACQUIR+ ! QUALITIES ( POLITICAL TRACT1 OR AT LEA/1 AN EXT5D$ REFLECTION ON ! RELATION BETWE5 DISCIPL9ES LIKE AN?ROPOLOGY & POLITICS4 

,! /&>D HI/ORY--! SORT ( ?+ A J\RNALI/ W\LD TAKE AS SELF-EVID5T FACT--IS ?AT ! LA/ DECADES ( ! TW5TIE? C5TURY W]E A TIME :5 ! ,AM]ICAN LEFT L>GELY RETREAT$ TO UNIV]SITIES & GRADUATE DEP>TM5TS1 SP9N+ \T 9CREAS+LY >CANE RADICAL META-!ORY1 DECON/RUCT+ EV]Y?+ 9 SI<T1 AS ALL >\ND !M1 ! RE/ ( ! WORLD BECAME 9CREAS+LY CONS]VATIVE4 ,AS A BROAD C>ICATURE1 ,I SUPPOSE ?IS IS NOT 5TIRELY 9ACCURATE4 

,BUT REC5T EV5TS SUGGE/ !RE MI<T BE V]Y DIFF]5T WAYS TO TELL ?IS /ORY4 ,! LA/ SEV]AL YE>S HAVE SE5 ! RAPID GR[? ( NEW SOCIAL MOVEM5TS-- P>TICUL>LY1 MOVEM5TS AGA9/ NEOLIB]ALISM 79 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES REF]R$ TO AS 0FREE M>KET0 IDEOLOGIES7--9 JU/ AB\T EV]Y CORN] ( ! WORLD1 9CLUD+1 SOME:AT BELAT$LY1 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES ITSELF4 ,YET ! SO-CALL$ ACADEMIC LEFT 9 ,AM]ICA HAS PLAY$ ALMO/ NO ROLE 9 ?IS2 9 FACT1 MANY ( ITS PRESUM$ MEMB]S SEEM ONLY VAGUELY AW>E ?AT SU* MOVEM5TS EXI/4 ,P]HAPS ?IS IS NOT ALL ?AT SURPRIS+3 NEOLIB]ALISM ITSELF REMA9S A SUBJECT ON :I* MOD]N CRITICAL META-!ORY HAS NEV] HAD V]Y MU* TO SAY4 

,BUT :Y IS ?AT8 ,IT SEEMS TO ME ?AT 9 A SURPRIS+ V>IETY ( WAYS1 ?IS CRITICAL !ORY ACTUALLY ANTICIPAT$ NEOLIB]AL >GUM5TS4 ,TAKE1 = EXAMPLE1 ! CONCEPT ( 0PO/MOD]NISM40 ,N[1 ADMITT$LY ?IS IS A SOME:AT TRICKY ONE BECAUSE !RE W]E NEV] MANY S*OL>S WILL+ TO ACTUALLY CALL !MSELVES 0PO/MOD]NI/S40 ,BUT 9 A WAY1 ?IS WAS PRECISELY :AT MADE ! T]M SO P[]FUL3 0PO/MOD]NISM0 WAS NOT SOME?+ ANYONE WAS PROPOS+ BUT A FAIT ACCOMPLI ?AT EV]YONE SIMPLY HAD TO ACCEPT4 ,FROM ! '#hS ON1 IT HAS BECOME COMMON TO BE PRES5T$ ) A S]IES ( >GUM5TS ?AT MI<T BE SUMM>IZ$1 9 C>ICATURE =M1 AS SOME?+ LIKE ?IS3  

,WE N[ LIVE 9 A ,PO/MOD]N ,AGE4 ,! WORLD HAS *ANG$2 NO ONE IS RESPONSIBLE1 IT SIMPLY HAPP5$ AS A RESULT ( 9EXORABLE PROCESSES2 NEI!R CAN WE DO ANY?+ AB\T IT1 BUT WE MU/ SIMPLY ADOPT \RSELVES TO NEW CONDITIONS4  

,ONE RESULT ( \R PO/MOD]N CONDITION IS ?AT S*EMES TO *ANGE ! WORLD OR HUMAN SOCIETY ?R\< COLLECTIVE POLITICAL ACTION >E NO LONG] VIABLE4 ,EV]Y?+ IS BROK5 UP & FRAGM5T$2 ANYWAY1 SU* S*EMES WILL 9EVITABLY EI!R PROVE IMPOSSIBLE1 OR PRODUCE TOTALIT>IAN NI<TM>ES4  

,:ILE ?IS MI<T SEEM TO LEAVE LITTLE ROOM = HUMAN AG5CY 9 HI/ORY1 ONE NE$ NOT DESPAIR COMPLETELY4 ,LEGITIMATE POLITICAL ACTION CAN TAKE PLACE1 PROVID$ IT IS ON A P]SONAL LEVEL3 ?R\< ! FA%ION+ ( SUBV]SIVE ID5TITIES1 =MS ( CREATIVE CONSUMPTION1 & ! LIKE4 ,SU* ACTION IS ITSELF POLITICAL & POT5TIALLY LIB]ATORY4  
  

,?IS IS1 AS ,I SAY1 A C>ICATURE3 ! ACTUAL >GUM5TS MADE 9 ANY P>TICUL> !ORETICAL TRACT ( ! TIME W]E USUALLY 9F9ITELY MORE COMPLEX4 ,/ILL1 !Y ALMO/ 9V>IABLY DID %>E SOME V]SION ( !SE ?REE !MES4 ,COMP>E !M1 !N1 TO ! >GUM5TS ?AT BEGAN TO BE PROMULGAT$ 9 ! '#iS1 9 ! POPUL> M$IA1 AB\T A PH5OM5A REF]R$ TO AS 0GLOBALIZATION03  

,WE N[ LIVE 9 ! AGE ( ! ,GLOBAL ,M>KET4 ,! WORLD HAS *ANG$2 NO ONE IS RESPONSIBLE1 IT SIMPLY HAPP5$ AS ! RESULT ( 9EXORABLE PROCESSES2 NEI!R CAN WE DO ANY?+ AB\T IT1 BUT WE MU/ SIMPLY ADOPT \RSELVES TO NEW CONDITIONS4  

,ONE RESULT IS ?AT S*EMES AIM+ TO *ANGE SOCIETY ?R\< COLLECTIVE POLITICAL ACTION >E NO LONG] VIABLE4 ,DREAMS ( REVOLUTION HAVE BE5 PROV5 IMPOSSIBLE OR1 WORSE1 B\ND TO PRODUCE TOTALIT>IAN NI<TM>ES2 EV5 ANY IDEA ( *ANG+ SOCIETY ?R\< ELECTORAL POLITICS MU/ N[ BE AB&ON$ 9 ! NAME ( 0COMPETITIV5ESS40  

,IF ?IS MI<T SEEM TO LEAVE LITTLE ROOM = DEMOCRACY1 ONE NE$ NOT DESPAIR3 M>KET BEHAVIOR1 & P>TICUL>LY 9DIVIDUAL CONSUMPTION DECISIONS1 >E DEMOCRACY2 9DE$1 !Y >E ALL ! DEMOCRACY WE'LL EV] REALLY NE$4  
  

,!RE IS1 ( C\RSE1 ONE 5ORM\S DIFF]5CE BETWE5 ! TWO >GUM5TS4 ,! C5TRAL CLAIM ( ?OSE :O CELEBRAT$ PO/MOD]NISM IS ?AT WE HAVE 5T]$ A WORLD 9 :I* ALL TOTALIZ+ SY/EMS--SCI5CE1 HUMANITY1 NATION1 TRU?1 & SO =?--HAVE ALL BE5 %ATT]$2 9 :I* !RE >E NO LONG] ANY GR& ME*ANISMS = /IT*+ TOGE!R A WORLD N[ BROK5 9TO 9COMM5SURABLE FRAGM5TS4 ,ONE CAN NO LONG] EV5 IMAG9E ?AT !RE C\LD BE A S+LE /&>D ( VALUE BY :I* TO MEASURE ?+S4 ,! NEOLIB]ALS ON ! O!R H& >E S++ ! PRAISES ( A GLOBAL M>KET ?AT IS1 9 FACT1 ! S+LE GREATE/ & MO/ MONOLI?IC SY/EM ( MEASUREM5T EV] CREAT$1 A TOTALIZ+ SY/EM ?AT W\LD SUBORD9ATE EV]Y?+--EV]Y OBJECT1 EV]Y PIECE ( L&1 EV]Y HUMAN CAPACITY OR RELATION%IP--ON ! PLANET TO A S+LE /&>D ( VALUE4 

,IT IS BECOM+ 9CREAS+LY OBVI\S ?AT :AT ?OSE :O CELEBRAT$ PO/MOD]NISM W]E DESCRIB+ WAS 9 L>GE P>T SIMPLY ! EFFECTS ( ?IS UNIV]SAL M>KET SY/EM1 :I*1 LIKE ANY TOTALIZ+ SY/EM ( VALUE1 T5DS TO ?R[ ALL O!RS 9TO D\BT & DIS>RAY4 ,! REM>KABLE ?+ IS ?AT !Y FAIL$ TO NOTICE ?IS FACT4 ,H[8 ,& :Y HAS IT BE5 SO DIFFICULT = !M TO COME UP ) A WAY TO CRITICIZE A SY/EM ?AT W\LD SEEM TO FLY DIRECTLY 9 ! FACE ( EV]Y?+ !Y >E CALL+ =8 

,PROBABLY ! REASON IS BECAUSE ?OSE :O US$ T]MS LIKE 0PO/MOD]NISM0 DID NOT1 9 FACT1 SEE !MSELVES AS CALL+ = ANY?+4 ,!Y W]E NOT WRIT+ MANIFE/OS = A PO/MOD]NI/ MOVEM5T4 ,!Y ?\<T !Y W]E SIMPLY DESCRIB+ SOME?+ ?AT WAS ALREADY TAK+ PLACE1 9EXORABLY1 ?R\< ! MOVEM5T ( ONE OR ANO!R SORT ( /RUCTURAL =CE4 ,& 9 ?IS !IR ATTITUDE WAS1 AGA91 M]ELY AN EXAGG]AT$ V]SION ( A MU* MORE COMMON ONE4 ,?IS1 ,I ?9K1 IS ! BE/ EXPLANATION = ! CURR5T P>ALYZES4 ,TO PUT IT BLUNTLY3 N[ ?AT IT HAS BECOME OBVI\S ?AT 0/RUCTURAL =CES0 ALONE >E NOT LIKELY TO !MSELVES PRODUCE SOME?+ WE P>TICUL>LY LIKE1 WE >E LEFT ) ! PROSPECT ( COM+ UP ) SOME ACTUAL ALT]NATIVES4 ,EV5 ASIDE FROM ! ALWAYS-DAUNT+ FACT ?AT ?IS W\LD MEAN DECID+ :O 0WE0 >E1 IT W\LD REQUIRE A MASSIVE *ANGE ( !ORETICAL HABITS4 ,IT W\LD MEAN ACCEPT+ ?AT PEOPLE1 AS P>T ( SOCIAL MOVEM5TS ( ONE K9D OR ANO!R1 MI<T BE CAPABLE ( AFFECT+ ! C\RSE ( HI/ORY 9 A SIGNIFICANT WAY4 ,?AT ALT]NATIVES CAN 9DE$ BE CREAT$1 & NOT JU/ COME AB\T4 ,?AT W\LD 9 TURN MEAN HAV+ TO GIVE SOME S]I\S ?\<T TO :AT ROLE 9TELLECTUALS CAN LEGITIMATELY PLAY 9 ?IS PROCESS1 & H[ !Y MI<T DO SO )\T FOM5T+ ! K9D ( /UPID SECT>IAN DOGMATISM WE'VE SO (T5 5D$ UP FOM5T+ 9 ! PA/4 ,MY [N EXP]I5CE OV] ! LA/ YE> WORK+ ) ! ,DIRECT ,ACTION ,NETWORK SUGGE/S ?AT ON A LOT ( !SE QUE/IONS1 ! ACTIVI/S >E WAY AHEAD ( US4 

,OBVI\SLY1 ?IS BOOK IS NOT ITSELF AN ATTEMPT TO ANSW] !SE QUE/IONS4 ,IT IS1 AS ,I SAY1 A BOOK ?AT ,I WROTE L>GELY 9 ORD] TO WORK \T SOME PROBLEMS 9 AN?ROPOLOGICAL !ORIES ( VALUE4 ,/ILL1 IT /RIKES ME ?AT IF ONE IS LOOK+ = ALT]NATIVES TO :AT MI<T BE CALL$ ! PHILOSOPHY ( NEOLIB]ALISM1 ITS MO/ BASIC ASSUMPTIONS AB\T ! HUMAN CONDITION1 !N A !ORY ( VALUE W\LD NOT BE A BAD PLACE TO />T4 ,IF WE >E NOT1 9 FACT1 CALCULAT+ 9DIVIDUALS TRY+ TO ACCUMULATE ! MAXIMUM POSSIBLE QUANTITIES ( P[]1 PLEASURE1 & MAT]IAL WEAL?1 !N :AT1 PRECISELY1 >E WE8 ,! FIR/ ?REE *APT]S ( ! BOOK >E AN EF=T TO SURVEY H[ SOCIAL !ORI/S HAVE DEALT ) SU* QUE/IONS 9 ! PA/1 ! DEAD 5DS ?AT !Y HAVE T5D$ TO RUN 9TO1 & ALSO1 H[ MANY ( MO/ APP>5TLY 9NOVATIVE REC5T !ORI/S HAVE T5D$ TO RECYCLE !SE SAME OLD DILEMMAS--)\T1 = ! MO/ P>T1 REALIZ+ !Y W]E DO+ SO4 ,IT 5DS ) A SUGGE/ION = ONE POSSIBLE WAY \T1 />T+ FROM :AT ,I CALL ! 0,H]ACLEITIAN TRADITION10 ONE ?AT SEES :AT SEEM TO US TO BE FIX$ OBJECTS AS PATT]NS ( MOTION1 & :AT SEEM TO BE FIX$ 'SOCIAL /RUCTURES' AS PATT]N+S ( ACTION4 ,VALUE1 ,I'LL SUGGE/1 CAN BE/ BE SE5 9 ?IS LI<T AS ! WAY 9 :I* ACTIONS BECOME MEAN+FUL TO ! ACTOR BY BE+ 9CORPORAT$ 9 SOME L>G]1 SOCIAL TOTALITY--EV5 IF 9 MANY CASES ! TOTALITY 9 QUE/ION EXI/S PRIM>ILY 9 ! ACTOR'S IMAG9ATION4 ,?IS >GUM5T TURNS ON A RA!R IDIOSYNCRATIC READ+ ( ! IDEAS ( ,K>L ,M>X4 

,! SECOND HALF ( ! BOOK FOCUSES MORE ON TWO !MES1 EX*ANGE1 & SOCIAL CREATIVITY4 ,IT BEG9S ) AN ESSAY ORIG9ALLY 5TITL$ 0,BEADS & ,MONEY3 ,NOTES ,T[>D A ,!ORY ( ,WEAL? & ,P[]0 7,GRAEB] #a#i#i#f71 :I* ASKS :Y IT IS ?AT OBJECTS *OS5 AS CURR5CIES 7BEADS1 %ELLS1 GOLD1 SILV]1 ETC417 SO (T5 CONSI/$ ( ?+S ?AT W]E O!RWISE US$ ONLY AS OBJECTS ( ADORNM5T2 IT GOES ON TO EXPLORE SEV]AL DETAIL$ E?NOGRAPHIC CASE /UDIES1 RANG+ FROM A *APT] ON WAMPUM 9 ! SEV5TE5? C5TURY ,AM]ICAN NOR!A/1 TO A RETURN TO ! ,FR5* AN?ROPOLOGI/ ,M>CEL ,MAUSS' FAM\S EXAMPLES ( ,TROBRI&1 ,MAORI1 & ,KWAKIUTL 0GIFT ECONOMIES10 & F9ALLY1 SOME MAT]IAL DRAWN FROM MY [N WORK ON MAGIC & ROYAL RITUAL 9 ! ,M]9A K+DOM 9 ,MADAGASC>4 ,OV] ! C\RSE ( IT ,I TRY TO TEASE \T & FUR!R DEVELOP SOME ( ,MAUSS' LESS WELL-KN[N IDEAS1 & 9 P>TICUL> HIS BELIEF 9 ! ROLE AN?ROPOLOGY C\LD PLAY 9 ! DEVELOPM5T ( REVOLUTION>Y !ORY4 ,9 MANY WAYS1 ,MAUSS S]VES AS A P]FECT COMPLEM5T TO ,M>X3 :ILE ONE D$ICAT$ HIMSELF TO A ?OR\< CRITIQUE ( CAPITALISM1 ! O!R WAS ULTIMATELY 9T]E/$ 9 BR++ ! FRUITS ( COMP>ATIVE E?NOGRAPHY--! ONLY DISCIPL9E CAPABLE ( ADDRESS+ ! FULL RANGE ( HUMAN POSSIBILITIES--TO BE> ON 5VISION+ POSSIBLE ALT]NATIVES TO IT4 ,EA* APPROA* HAS ITS DANG]S IF TAK5 TOO F>4 ,IF ONE TAKES UP ! ,MAUSSIAN PROJECT ) TOO MU* UNCRITICAL 5?USIASM1 ONE 5DS UP ) A NAIVE RELATIVISM UTT]LY BL9D TO P[]4 ,BUT IF ONE IS TOO RIGOR\S & S+LE-M9D$ AB\T ONE'S CRITICAL PROJECT1 ONE CAN EASILY SLIP 9TO A VIEW ( SOCIAL REALITY SO CYNICAL1 ( A WORLD SO UTT]LY CREAS$ ) P[] & DOM9ATION1 ?AT IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAG9E H[ ANY?+ C\LD REALLY *ANGE--& ?IS IS1 ,I >GUE1 PRECISELY :AT BEGAN TO HAPP5 :5 CRITICAL !ORY WAS PU%$ TOO F> 9 ! '#gS & '#hS1 & OP5$ ! WAY = ! NEOLIB]AL BACKLA% TO BE F\ND 9 SO MANY /RA9S ( PO/MOD]NISM4 

,I DID NOT WRITE ?IS BOOK JU/ = AN?ROPOLOGI/S4 ,I LIKE TO ?9K ?AT IT MI<T BE ( SOME 9T]E/ TO SOCIAL !ORI/S 9 G5]AL1 & 9 P>TICUL> ?OSE CURR5TLY /RUGGL+1 LIKE ME1 ) H[ TO RELATE !ORY TO A S5SE ( POLITICAL 5GAGEM5T4 ,9 ! F9AL ANALYSIS1 IT IS A PLEA1 AS ! ,ZAPATI/AS LIKE TO SAY1 0= HUMANITY1 & AGA9/ NEOLIB]ALISM03 AN ATTEMPT AT LEA/ TO BEG9 TO IMAG9E :AT A HUMANI/IC SOCIAL SCI5CE--ONE ?AT DOES NOT1 9 SO DO+1 AB&ON EV]Y?+ ?AT IS G5U9ELY VALUABLE 9 ! NOTION ( 0SCI5CE0-- MI<T ACTUALLY BE LIKE4 

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,JANU>Y #g1 #bba 3 ,A ,FEW ,WORDS BY ,WAY ( ,9TRODUCTION -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #a#g1 #bbb 3 ,A ,FEW ,WORDS BY ,WAY ( ,9TRODUCTION -- ,UPDAT$4 

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