Envisioning Power: Ideologies of Dominance and Crisis

by Eric R. Wolf

With the originality and energy that have marked his earlier works, Eric Wolf now explores the historical relationship of ideas, power, and culture. Responding to anthropology's long reliance on a concept of culture that takes little account of power, Wolf argues that power is crucial in shaping the circumstances of cultural production. Responding to social-science notions of ideology that incorporate power but disregard the ways ideas respond to cultural promptings, he demonstrates how power and ideas connect through the medium of culture.

Wolf advances his argument by examining three very different societies, each remarkable for its flamboyant ideological the Kwakiutl Indians of the Northwest Pacific Coast, the Aztecs of pre-Hispanic Mexico, and National Socialist Germany. Tracing the history of each case, he shows how these societies faced tensions posed by ecological, social, political, or psychological crises, prompting ideological responses that drew on distinctive, historically rooted cultural understandings. In each case study, Wolf analyzes how the regnant ideology intertwines with power around the pivotal relationships that govern social labor. Anyone interested in the history of anthropology or in how the social sciences make comparisons will want to join Wolf in Envisioning Power .

Genres: Anthropology, Politics, Nonfiction, History, Social Science

352 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 1998

About the author

Anthropologist, best known for his studies of peasants, Latin America, and his advocacy of Marxian perspectives within anthropology.

Reviews

[Matthew Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eric Wolf is an anthropologist who subscribes to the world view that considers the Marxian dialectic.
Though not touted as his best work. I felt that Envisioning Power gives Wolf more credit than he got for it. He focuses on his quest to explain the locus of culture as stemming from the power struggles of humanity. Culture is exemplified best by taking a closer look at culture in the guise of power struggling actors on the stage of life. A good read.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think Eric Wolf is overrated.

[Roberto Yoed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting discussion about ideology but, being completely honest, Althusser's ISA's are way much profound, interesting and practical.