Christian Pelras was a French ethnologist in Indonesia , especially the island of Celebes. After studying classical literature, Christian Pelras studied sociology and ethnology in Paris. He also learned Indonesian, first at the Inalco, then in Indonesia with a scholarship from the Indonesian government. He also speaks, understands or reads English, Dutch, Occitan, German, Breton, Bugis, Italian and Portuguese.
Christian Pelras began his career as a researcher in 1962 by entering the Anthropological Research Center of the Musée de l'Homme. He was in charge of a study on the commune of Goulien in southern Finistère. This work lead to his doctorate.
In 1964, he joined the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), where he worked undChristian Pelras was a French ethnologist in Indonesia , especially the island of Celebes. After studying classical literature, Christian Pelras studied sociology and ethnology in Paris. He also learned Indonesian, first at the Inalco, then in Indonesia with a scholarship from the Indonesian government. He also speaks, understands or reads English, Dutch, Occitan, German, Breton, Bugis, Italian and Portuguese.
Christian Pelras began his career as a researcher in 1962 by entering the Anthropological Research Center of the Musée de l'Homme. He was in charge of a study on the commune of Goulien in southern Finistère. This work lead to his doctorate.
In 1964, he joined the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), where he worked under the direction of André Leroi-Gourhan. He was also assigned to the Center for Documentation and Research on Southeast Asia and the Insulindian World (CeDRASEMI), headed by George Condominas, where he will remain until the dissolution of this one in 1984.
Christian Pelras was then appointed head of one of the research units that emerged from it, then promoted to the rank of research director. In 1991, he was appointed co-director of LASEMA , which he headed until 1994 and then became an elected member of the laboratory council.