New Books in Anthropology Di Wu et. al, eds., "China As Context: Anthropology, Post-globalisation and the Neglect of China" (Manchester UP, 2025)
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Jan 16, 2026 In this enlightening discussion, anthropologists Di Wu and Ed Pulford tackle the pressing need for recognizing China's importance in global academia. They reveal how the Ukraine conflict initiated their groundbreaking project, which addresses the marginalization of Chinese ideas in anthropology. The duo emphasizes that understanding China requires a shift from viewing it as an 'Other' to acknowledging it as a vital context. They explore methodologies that embrace China's dynamism and share insights on the transformative role Chinese scholarship could play in reshaping social science theories.
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China As Ordinary Context
- Treating China as part of context changes how anthropologists frame global theory and ethnography.
- Contextualizing China prevents treating it as a distant 'Other' and reveals its ordinary, widespread effects.
Neglect Means Marginalized Theory
- 'Neglect' names China's marginalization as a producer of anthropological theory, not total absence.
- The editors aim to build bridges between China specialists and other anthropologists for shared theorizing.
Context As Process, Not Backdrop
- Context is both background conditions and an interactive, co-created process.
- Anthropologists should recontextualize context continuously as social relations and affects shift.
