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Synopsis
This book provides a radical alternative to prevailing theories of caste which either build on indigenous rationalizations of the Brahman's supremacy or reduce hierarchy to material factors. Drawing on a wide range of historical and ethnographic sources as well as four years' fieldwork, Declan Quigley proposes a comparative approach which locates caste-organized communities in the context of complex agrarian societies generally. At the heart of caste, he argues, there is a tension between the centralizing forces of kingship and its associated ritual and decentralizing forces of kinship. Dr. Quigley believes that it is this tension, rather than Brahminical ideology, which generates the characteristic patterns of hierarchy and the preoccupation with purity and pollution. In making kingship central to the explanation of caste, this book calls for a considered reexamination of the theory of caste proposed by A.M. Hocart over half a century ago, and offers an elegant and wide-ranging comparative interpretation of facts which have until now eluded satisfactory explanation.
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About the Author
Declan Quigley is at University of St Andrews.
Review
`Quigley is particularly good at showing why the Brahmins are not a homogeneous category ... Quigley's is a perceptive and most welcome book.' Bhikhu Parekh, Times Higher Education Supplement
'This work is a readable and interesting analysis of a complex and largely theoretical debate ... this is a valuable book on the subject of caste and should be of interest to anthropologists in general, as well as those with a particular interest in the Indian sub-continent.' Rosanne Cecil, The Queen's University of Belfast, Anthropology Ireland, Spring '93
'This is, quite simply, an excellent book on caste: refined enough for the specialist, robust and clear enough for the generalist. This book will set the empirical cat amongst the theoretical pigeons. The wider ramifications of this work are important too - regarding the origins of caste, Quigley may be closer to Inden than he imagines, and I look forward to seeing more of Quigley's thoughts on Inden's work in the future.' Vernon Hewitt, Asian Affairs, February 1994
`fascinating work on caste ... Quigley provides a sustained critique of both the conventional wisdom on caste and Louis Dumont's influential work Homo Hierarchicus' Indian Review of Books
'His polemic is designed to stimulate controversy and should succeed.' Anthony Good, Current Anthropology, Volume 34, Number 5, December 1993
'Quigley's book is the best word we have on the subject.' Subhash Kak, The Times of India Sunday Review, December 1993
`The Interpretation of Caste gives a clear and concise account of the general kind of problems presented by previous theories on caste. It serves as a useful introductory textbook - probably the first of its kind - and in this sense it is a valuable contribution in the field of South Asian studies and anthropology in particular.' The Developing Economies
`Very well written.' Asian Affairs
`often ingeniously argued and productive of insights' --Robert Parkin, Journal of the An ological Society
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The interpretation of caste / Declan Quigley
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Oxford New York: Clarendon Press; Oxford University Press, 1993
ISBN 10: 0198278829
ISBN 13: 9780198278825
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Seller: MW Books Ltd., Galway, Ireland
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1st Edition. Fine cloth copy in a near-fine, very slightly edge-nicked and dust-dulled dust wrapper, now mylar-sleeved. Remains particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and strong. Physical description: viii, 184 pages: illustrations; 23 cm. Contents: 1. The Problem Before Dumont -- The Entrenched View of Caste -- The Word 'Caste' -- Is Caste an Orientalist Construct? -- 2. Dumont's Theory of Caste -- Epistemology and Sociology -- The Distinctiveness of Caste -- Status, Power, and Encompassment -- The Structuralist Interpretation of Caste -- Dumont's View of Empiricism -- Dumont's Critique of His Critics -- 3. The Problem With Dumont's Solution -- Why the Problem is not Simply about Caste -- The Sociological Bridge between Traditional and Modern Societies -- Power and Legitimacy -- Structuralism -- 4. The Pure Brahman and the Impure Priest -- The Ideal Brahman in the Real World -- Priests and 'Others' as Vessels of Inauspiciousness -- The Limits of Transcendence -- 5. Caste and Kinship -- Hypergamy -- Isogamy -- Hierarchy and Endogamy -- 6. Caste and Kingship: Hocart's Theory -- Kings and Priests -- Problems with Hocart's Theory -- The Ideologies of Caste -- 7. The Courts of Kings and Washermen -- A Model of Caste Systems -- The Explanation of Caste. Subjects: Caste Southeast Asia. Caste Asia, Southeastern. South Asia Social conditions. India Social conditions. 1 Kg. Seller Inventory # 354238
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The interpretation of caste / Declan Quigley
Published by
Oxford New York: Clarendon Press; Oxford University Press, 1993
ISBN 10: 0198278829
ISBN 13: 9780198278825
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: MW Books, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
1st Edition. Fine cloth copy in a near-fine, very slightly edge-nicked and dust-dulled dust wrapper, now mylar-sleeved. Remains particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and strong. Physical description: viii, 184 pages: illustrations; 23 cm. Contents: 1. The Problem Before Dumont -- The Entrenched View of Caste -- The Word 'Caste' -- Is Caste an Orientalist Construct? -- 2. Dumont's Theory of Caste -- Epistemology and Sociology -- The Distinctiveness of Caste -- Status, Power, and Encompassment -- The Structuralist Interpretation of Caste -- Dumont's View of Empiricism -- Dumont's Critique of His Critics -- 3. The Problem With Dumont's Solution -- Why the Problem is not Simply about Caste -- The Sociological Bridge between Traditional and Modern Societies -- Power and Legitimacy -- Structuralism -- 4. The Pure Brahman and the Impure Priest -- The Ideal Brahman in the Real World -- Priests and 'Others' as Vessels of Inauspiciousness -- The Limits of Transcendence -- 5. Caste and Kinship -- Hypergamy -- Isogamy -- Hierarchy and Endogamy -- 6. Caste and Kingship: Hocart's Theory -- Kings and Priests -- Problems with Hocart's Theory -- The Ideologies of Caste -- 7. The Courts of Kings and Washermen -- A Model of Caste Systems -- The Explanation of Caste. Subjects: Caste Southeast Asia. Caste Asia, Southeastern. South Asia Social conditions. India Social conditions. 1 Kg. Seller Inventory # 354238
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The Interpretation of Caste (Oxford Studies in Social and Cultural Anthropology)
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Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1993
ISBN 10: 0198278829
ISBN 13: 9780198278825
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First Edition
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Hard Cover. Condition: Very Good+. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. 184pp. 8.8 inches. Black cloth, gilt titles. Few faint marks to front, very slight forward lean, tiny faint mark to tops. Internally as new, no owner's marks. In vg jacket, slight creasing to upper edge. Discusses mainly the Indian Hindu caste system in a cultural and sociological context. 400g (India, Anthropology, Sociology, Hinduism, Ideology, Religion) Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Seller Inventory # C15817
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The Interpretation of Caste (Oxford Studies in Social & Cultural Anthropology)
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Condition: Poor. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has hardback covers. Book contains pen, pencil & highlighter markings. In poor condition, suitable as a reading copy. No dust jacket. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,450grams, ISBN:0198278829. Seller Inventory # 2293304
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The Interpretation of Caste
Published by
Clarendon Press Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1993
ISBN 10: 0198278829
ISBN 13: 9780198278825
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First Edition
Seller: Webbooks, Wigtown, Wigtown, United Kingdom
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Hard Cover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. A clean tight copy. viii, [2] 184pp. Binding is black cloth covered boards with gilt titling to spine. A00022821. Seller Inventory # A00022821
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The Interpretation of Caste
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orig.cloth. 22x14cm, viii,184 pp. "This book provides a radical alternative to prevailing theories of caste which either build on indigenous rationalizations of the Brahman's supremacy or reduce hierarchy to material factors. Drawing on a wide range of historical and ethnographic sources as well as four years fieldwork, Declan Quigley proposes a comparative approach which locates caste- organized communities in the context of complex agrarian societies generally. At the heart of caste, he argues, there is a tension between the centralizing forces of kingship with its associated ritual and the decentralizing forces of kinship. Dr Quigley believes that it is this tension, rather than Brahminical ideology, which generates the characteristic patterns of hierarchy and the preoccupation with purity and pollution. In making kingship central to the explanation of caste, this book calls for a considered re-examination of the theory of caste proposed by A.M. Hocart over half a century ago, and offers a wide-ranging comparative interpretation of facts which have until now eluded satisfactory explanation. This book should be of interest to teachers and students of anthropology and sociology, particularly of South-East Asia; and students of comparative social structures and of general anthropological theory" - publisher's description. Somer minor rubbing. Light binding corner bumps. VG., dustwrapper. Seller Inventory # 024908
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