Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology

Rating:
Summary: Interesting yes, practical no
Review:
Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology presents some interesting theories. It even manages to sound convincing some of the time. What's missing is a practical, plausible way to begin implementing anarchist social theory into a system held in a chokehold by technocratic monopolies and apathetic consumerism. Anarchism is just too abstract and too presumptuous to actually ever be feasible. David Graeber manages to convince those of us still lingering on the edge of the mainstream that anarchism is still rooted in archaic, utopian-driven notions. Certainly the author can find global examples of anarchist principles at work, but the notion of dismantling massive capitalist-driven, corporate-country entities with something as problematical as anarchism, just doesn't seem reasonable - at least not in the format presented by Mr. Graeber.

The social and cultural development of humans has been marked by intense episodes of inhumanity and violence. Anarchism seems to desperately insist that dark, shadowy archetypes in the form of rulers, political systems and governments are solely responsible for the mess we currently find ourselves in, thus totally negating the roll of basic human nature.

Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology is a bold, optimistic work, but like most tracts on anarchism but will probably only hold appeal for intellectuals or academic nonconformists.


Rating:
Summary: An interesting approach.
Review: I very much enjoyed this book. As something of an anarchist, I find myself thinking about anarchist approaches to world problems, but the problem I see is that anarchism is more of a methodology than an ideology. Essentially, it is a moral and practical approach toward social change. It reaches me than the theoretical approaches to strategizing like Marx's and other armchair revolutionists' work. Essentially, Graeber is searching for methods where we can institute the anarchist's approach to studying society, which sounds like a paradoxical premise at first because anarchism isn't so much a theory as it is a practice, but it makes sense. Basically, his approach aims tp make the study of society much more praxeological in approach, as opposed to creating a set of ideas alienated from real human behavior, by using an anarchist perspective to study society. I really like what he's done here, although there is much less meat than I had hoped for. I'd like to see a bigger book with some examples of what he's looking for (like new approaches to sociology and an entirely new way to look at the concept of the state). I think it will take years to develop a large body of theory to work with, but he's on to something groundbreaking.

Rating:
Summary: Review for "Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology"
Review: In this book, "Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology", Graeber presents alternatives to the social systems we have presumed are our only paradigms. He points to successful anarchist organizations (and experiments) worldwide as a potential directions for Western societies to follow. What Graeber doesn't address is the complex role of humanity's "dark side" or the difficulties of integrating a technological society into a harmonious utopian anarchist whole. However, the book is commendable as it defends anarchy as an existing social alternative and charges the reader to consider how it could possibly be implemented.

Rating:
Summary: Review for "Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology"
Review: In this book, "Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology", Graeber presents alternatives to the social systems we have presumed are our only paradigms. He points to successful anarchist organizations (and experiments) worldwide as a potential directions for Western societies to follow. What Graeber doesn't address is the complex role of humanity's "dark side" or the difficulties of integrating a technological society into a harmonious utopian anarchist whole. However, the book is commendable as it defends anarchy as an existing social alternative and charges the reader to consider how it could possibly be implemented.

Rating:
Summary: Blowing up walls
Review: The book is meant to be examined not as a coherent set of theories or practices for instituting anarchist methods, but is instead, as the title indicates, meant to reveal fragments and pieces of an anarchist approach to society. Previous reviews mention the "dark side of humanity", or "basic human nature", but they would seem to assume much about the inner workings of human beings. It is not altogether absurd to forsee an interest in anarchist practice more broadly as people continue to see what results from the use and abuse of power. Graeber's book is a thought experiment, an attempt to envision an alternative to what we have now, not a manifesto pointing out exactly what should be done. He has excellent critiques of what we currently view as "democracy", and also does a thoughtful job examining Pierre Clastres' work "Society Against the State", as well as offering examples of groups which were much more egalitarian in nature, including those that broke away from states to become so.