Comparison has long been the backbone of anthropology. But for some decades comparison as a theory and method has been out of favour, a casualty of the growing mistrust of objectivist, hard-science methodology.
In Anthropology, by Comparison an international group of anthropologists re-invigorates comparison as a legitimate enterprise. The authors explain the valuable elements of anthropological comparison and encourage an international dialogue about comparative research. They take a fresh look at various neglected approaches to comparison and present new approaches that are relevant to the globalized world of the 21st century.