Bruce Grant and Lale Yalçın-Heckmann, eds. Caucasus Paradigms: Anthropologies, Histories and the Making of a World Area. Berlin: Lit Verlag, 2007

Abstract

The collection Caucasus Paradigms: Anthropologies, Histories and the Making of a World Area, published in 2007, represents a landmark anthropological publication in the field of Caucasus studies. Edited by anthropologists Bruce Grant from the United States and Lale Yalçın-Heckmann from Germany, this volume brings together the work of scholars in the field. Published in Germany as part of the Halle Studies in the Anthropology of Eurasia series, the book is tailored for an English-speaking audience, which enhances its relevance and accessibility for a broader scholarly community. The book contains 13 chapters, each addressing different aspects of the Caucasus region through a variety of disciplinary lenses, including anthropology, history, and sociology. Rather than providing a detailed summary of each chapter, this review highlights the key themes and debates that the book engages with, particularly within the context of global Caucasus studies. What sets this book apart is its approach to the Caucasus not merely as an object of Western scholarly inquiry but as a region with diverse voices and perspectives. Despite the majority of contributors being affiliated with Western institutions, they have extensive experience living and conducting research in the Caucasus, which lends their work a nuanced and deeply informed perspective. Additionally, several contributors are from the Caucasus region itself, ensuring that the book reflects a multiplicity of viewpoints.

Text in English