L’économie morale des anthropologies-monde du 21ème siècle

This paper reviews the history of anthropology through the three globalization processes it has undergone since its origin in the 18th century. The discovery of the Other, and then that of the social change and of the historicity (especially of the colonial period) of its societies and cultures, settles all anthropologies at the same level today. This phenomenon calls into question the so-called natural hierarchy that has favoured the Western tradition, though today many new traditions are being elaborated and activated in anthropology by the countries and even the indigenous populations of the South. Elaboration of a common sociology of knowledge should enable all anthropologists to compare and evaluate themselves and their various backgrounds and traditions. Such a detour allows us to have a more egalitarian view of both the theoretical and the field experience of all anthropologies qualified today as world anthropologies or anthropologies without boundaries.