Anthropology of Policy: Perspectives on Governance and Power

IAnthropology of Policyargues that policy has become an increasingly central organizing principle in contemporary societies, shaping the way we live, act and think. This book shows how anthropological approaches to policy can provide insights into a range of contemporary issues, from equal opportunities to health care, from AIDS to housing policies. Despite the importance of policy as a key institution of modern society, it remains curiously under-theorized and lacking in critical analysis. In questioning and explaining policy's language and its links with power, the contributors challenge the accepted notion of policy as rational and progressively linear and pave the way for further research.