Anthropology and Economic Imperialism: The Battlefield of Culture

Swee-Hoon Chuah ()

Occasional Papers from Industrial Economics Division

Abstract: The concept of culture is traditionally the home turf of anthropologists. However, economists have become increasingly interested in culture, using the language of culture to study both macro- and micro-level economic phenomena. Anthropologists view this as an encroachment into their territory and are battling to keep the `economic imperialists' out. This paper examines, from a philosophy of science perspective, the inherent differences between the disciplines of anthropology and economics that lie at the heart of this battle. It concludes by observing how a greater appreciation of and respect for each other?s view of culture can foster closer collaboration and further enrich both disciplines.

Keywords: Culture; anthropology; methodology; modernism; relativism; post-modernism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A12 B12 B40 N01 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003-09-09
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Working Paper: Anthropology and Economic Imperialism: The Battlefield of Culture (2003)
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