Top 100 Social Anthropologists and Their Theories You Must Know

1. Marcel Mauss (1872–1950) — The Gift Theory: Mauss argued that gift exchanges create social bonds, fostering reciprocity. Refusing a gift is often viewed as an insult across various cultures, showcasing the complexities of gifting.
2. Claude Lévi-Strauss (1908–2009) — Structuralism and Myth: He applied structuralism to mythology, revealing that myths are structured systems imbued with meaning. His analysis of Oedipus myth exposed societal structures that challenged conventional interpretations.
3. Mary Douglas (1921–2007) — Cultural Classification: Douglas explored how cultures classify concepts like cleanliness and pollution, emphasizing that these ideas are culturally specific rather than universal.
4. Pierre Bourdieu (1930–2002) — Habitus and Cultural Capital: Bourdieu introduced the habitus concept, showcasing how learned dispositions influence social behaviors and how cultural capital affects social positioning.
5. Clifford Geertz (1926–2006) — Thick Description: Geertz emphasized understanding cultural meanings through rich ethnographic descriptions, revealing power dynamics and social values, as seen in his analysis of Balinese cockfights.
6. Sherry Ortner (1941-present) — Symbolic Anthropology: Ortner's work in feminist anthropology examined women's roles, illustrating their symbolic association with nature and how this impacts their societal status.
7. Marilyn Strathern (1941-present) — Kinship and Reproductive Technology: Strathern studied how reproductive technologies affect kinship structures, demonstrating that these advancements challenge traditional definitions of parenthood.
8. Arjun Appadurai (1949-present) — Globalization: Appadurai analyzed how globalization reshapes cultural exchanges, emphasizing that it is a multifaceted process rather than a homogenizing force.
9. Victor Turner (1920–1983) — Ritual and Social Drama: Turner’s concept of social drama revealed how rituals serve as moments for negotiating societal tensions, as seen in the rites of passage among the Ndembu.
10. David Schneider (1918–1995) — American Kinship: Schneider’s work challenged biological interpretations of kinship, arguing that kinship is a social construct shaped by cultural understandings.
11. Eduardo Viveiros de Castro (1951-present) — Perspectivism: Viveiros de Castro's work with Amazonian tribes introduced the idea that non-human entities possess their own cultures and perspectives, challenging anthropocentrism.
12. Nancy Scheper-Hughes (1944-present) — Body and Violence: Scheper-Hughes explored the intersection of violence and the human body, particularly in the context of organ trafficking and its implications for marginalized communities.
13. James C. Scott (1936-present) — Subaltern Studies: Scott focused on the agency of oppressed groups, introducing the concept of hidden transcripts as a means of resistance against power dynamics.
14. Tim Ingold (1948-present) — Anthropology of the Senses: Ingold emphasized sensory experiences in human-environment interactions, analyzing how traditional Inuit dwellings reflect cultural knowledge.
15. Nurit Bird-David (1954-present) — Co-sentient Anthropology: Bird-David’s research with hunter-gatherers reframed their relationship with nature as one of co-sentience, challenging the nature-culture divide.
16. Aihwa Ong (1950-present) — Neoliberalism: Ong's work investigates how neoliberal policies reshape societal norms and individual identities in Southeast Asia.
17. Talal Asad (1932-present) — Religion and Secularism: Asad critiqued Eurocentric notions of secularism, demonstrating its role as a regulatory force in shaping religious practices.
18. George E. Marcus (1946-present) — Multi-sited Ethnography: Marcus advocated for studying social phenomena across multiple sites, promoting collaborative relationships between researchers and subjects.
19. Anne Allison (1955-present) — Japan’s Consumer Culture: Allison examined how consumerism offers avenues for identity formation among those in precarious situations in Japan.
20. Michael Taussig (1940-present) — Shamanism and Colonialism: Taussig investigated how colonialism affects indigenous practices, introducing the concept of mimesis as a form of resistance.
21. Ortner Wolf (1942-present) — Late Capitalism: Wolf analyzed globalization and flexible accumulation strategies used by multinational corporations in Southeast Asia.
22. Roy Wagner (1938-present) — Symbolic Ecology: Wagner's work examines how societies construct meanings about the natural world, emphasizing cultural and environmental co-evolution.
23. Sarah Franklin (1959-present) — Reproductive Technologies: Franklin explored the ethical dimensions of reproductive technologies and their impact on women's choices.
24. David Graeber (1961–2020) — Debt: Graeber's research unveiled the social dimensions of debt, arguing it significantly shaped economic systems.
25. Anna Tsing (1952-present) — Multispecies Ethnography: Tsing analyzed the interactions between human and non-human worlds, focusing on the complexities of globalization.
26. Veena Das (1945-present) — Violence and Trauma: Das's work highlighted the everyday realities of violence for marginalized communities and their resilience.
27. Christina Toren (1967-present) — Childhood and Learning: Toren challenged universal notions of childhood, exploring how cultures shape children's experiences.
28. Liisa Malkki (1958-present) — Refugees and Identity: Malkki examined how refugees navigate identity amid displacement.
29. Ulf Hannerz (1942-present) — Global Ecumene: Hannerz analyzed the emergence of a globalized culture, emphasizing interconnectedness among diverse societies.
30. Marisol de la Cadena (1961-present) — Indigenous Cosmopolitics: de la Cadena’s research examined how indigenous communities engage with governance and cultural practices.
31. Margaret Mead (1901–1978) — Gender and Sexuality: Mead's studies on gender roles across cultures challenged fixed notions of masculinity and femininity.
32. John and Jean Comaroff (John: 1945-present, Jean: 1946-present) — Colonialism and Language: Their research explored how colonialism reshapes cultural practices and social hierarchies in Africa.
33. Aihwa Ong (1950-present) — Biopolitics: Ong investigated the implications of biopolitics on citizenship and migration.
34. Michael Lambek (1958-present) — Language and Religion: Lambek highlighted the interplay between language and religious practices.
35. Rogaia Abusharaf — Reproduction and Islam: Abusharaf studied how cultural contexts shape women's reproductive health and rights.
36. Ghassan Hage (1957-present) — Racism and Whiteness: Hage analyzed the dynamics of racism in multicultural societies, especially in Australia.
37. Don Kulick (1960-present) — Language and Sexuality: Kulick focused on how language constructs sexual identities within cultural contexts.
38. Tanya Luhrmann (1959-present) — Religion and Subjectivity: Luhrmann investigated how cultural frameworks shape religious experiences.
39. João Biehl (1968-present) — Mental Health and Human Rights: Biehl examined mental health within various cultural contexts, advocating for culturally sensitive approaches.
40. Webb Keane (1960-present) — Semiotics and Morality: Keane analyzed the role of cultural symbols in constructing ethical values.
41. Marshall Sahlins (1930-present) — Cultural Historiography: Sahlins explored how societies interpret historical events through cultural lenses.
42. Maurice Bloch (1939-present) — Ritual and Memory: Bloch examined how rituals shape collective memories and reinforce social bonds.
43. Michel-Rolph Trouillot (1949–2012) — Power and Silences: Trouillot studied how dominant narratives exclude marginalized voices.
44. Cecilia Van Hollen (1963-present) — Health and Development: Van Hollen analyzed the intersection of health initiatives and reproductive rights in South Asia.
45. James Ferguson (1959-present) — Development Theory: Ferguson critiqued development interventions, highlighting their unintended consequences.
46. Aradhana Sharma (1970-present) — Gender and Labor: Sharma explored how globalization affects women’s work and family dynamics in India.
47. Hannah Knox — Infrastructure and Urbanism: Knox studied how infrastructure shapes social relationships and urban environments.
48. Sylvia Yanagisako (1941-present) — Gender and Kinship: Yanagisako examined how kinship systems intersect with gender roles.
49. Joanna Overing (1945-present) — Amazonian Anthropology: Overing focused on indigenous knowledge and its implications for human-nature relations.
50. Didier Fassin (1955-present) — Medical Anthropology: Fassin investigated social inequalities in health access and medical practices.

51. Nancy Munn (1944-present) — Indigenous Art: Munn explored how indigenous art shapes social relationships and identity.
52. Hugh Gusterson (1963-present) — Warfare and Nuclear Culture: Gusterson examined the social implications of nuclear militarization.
53. Elizabeth Povinelli (1958-present) — Indigenous Sovereignty: Povinelli focused on Indigenous governance and cultural practices.
54. Akosua Adomako Ampofo (1954-present) — Feminist Anthropology: Ampofo analyzed gender dynamics and women's rights in African contexts.
55. Kirin Narayan (1959-present) — Narrative and Performance: Narayan studied storytelling's role in shaping cultural identities.
56. David A. Kideckel (1959-present) — Postsocialism: Kideckel examined economic transformations post-socialism.
57. Heonik Kwon (1958-present) — War Memory: Kwon focused on how memories of war shape societal narratives.
58. Bill Maurer (1963-present) — Money and Islamic Finance: Maurer explored cultural understandings of money and emerging financial systems.
59. Barbara J. King (1954-present) — Animal Studies: King analyzed human-animal relationships and the implications for anthropological perspectives.
60. Veena Das (1945-present) — Violence and Ethics: Das examined the lived experiences of violence and its ethical implications.
61. Graham Harvey (1959-present) — Indigenous Religions: Harvey studied how indigenous beliefs shape environmental ethics.
62. João Pina-Cabral (1957-present) — Time and Historical Consciousness: Pina-Cabral analyzed cultural conceptions of time and memory.
63. Arturo Escobar (1952-present) — Environmental Anthropology: Escobar critiqued development models and promoted sustainable practices.
64. Carolyn Rouse (1962-present) — Racial Inequality: Rouse investigated race's intersection with poverty and social justice.
65. Marc Augé (1935-present) — Non-Places: Augé examined spaces lacking identity, reflecting broader societal changes.
66. David Graeber (1961–2020) — Bureaucracy and Debt: Graeber analyzed how bureaucratic structures influence social relationships.
67. Akhil Gupta (1962-present) — Corruption: Gupta studied the social construction of corruption and its implications.
68. Tania Murray Li (1962-present) — Land Grabbing: Li focused on the impact of large-scale land acquisitions on local communities.
69. Uzma Z. Rizvi (1973-present) — Heritage Studies: Rizvi examined heritage through a postcolonial lens, advocating for community empowerment.
70. Rosalind Fredericks — Urban Anthropology: Fredericks analyzed infrastructure politics in African cities.
71. Akosua Adomako Ampofo (1954-present) — Feminism: Ampofo explored gender dynamics in African feminist movements.
72. Bruce Kapferer (1940-present) — Ritual and Politics: Kapferer examined how rituals influence political meanings and identities.
73. Karen Ho (1975-present) — Finance: Ho studied Wall Street's culture and its social dynamics.
74. Yasmin Abbas (1956-present) — Diaspora Studies: Abbas explored identity formation in diasporic communities.
75. Brian Moeran (1949-present) — Work and Creativity: Moeran focused on how cultural practices shape workplace dynamics.
76. Agustín Fuentes (1962-present) — Human Evolution: Fuentes examined the interconnections between humans and primates.
77. Jonathan Friedman (1946-present) — Globalization: Friedman engaged with world systems theory to analyze social dynamics.
78. Katherine Verdery (1947-present) — Post-Socialism: Verdery studied social changes during transitions from socialism to market economies.
79. Caroline Humphrey (1949-present) — Siberia: Humphrey explored the lifeways of nomadic societies in challenging environments.
80. Harri Englund (1965-present) — Politics and Human Rights: Englund examined the intersections of politics, media, and human rights.
81. Ghassan Hage (1957-present) — Multiculturalism: Hage explored racism and cultural diversity in multicultural societies.
82. Laurence C. Smith (1962-present) — Climate Change: Smith examined how communities adapt to environmental changes.
83. Marilyn Strathern (1941-present) — Kinship and Gender: Strathern analyzed kinship's role in shaping gender dynamics.
84. Eduardo Kohn (1978-present) — Multispecies Ethnography: Kohn focused on how different beings perceive the world.
85. Nancy Scheper-Hughes (1944-present) — Medical Anthropology: Scheper-Hughes highlighted ethical dimensions in health disparities and practices.
86. Rane Willerslev (1971-present) — Indigenous Peoples: Willerslev studied how indigenous communities navigate modernity.
87. Zoe Crossland (1979-present) — Death Studies: Crossland explored cultural practices surrounding death and burial.
88. Eduardo Viveiros de Castro (1951-present) — Indigenous Perspectives: Viveiros de Castro examined diverse ontological views in indigenous societies.
89. Susan McKinnon (1957-present) — Language and Gender: McKinnon analyzed how language reflects and shapes gender dynamics.
90. David Harvey (1935-present) — Urban Anthropology: Harvey studied the impact of capitalism on urban spaces.
91. Thomas Hylland Eriksen (1962-present) — Cultural Diversity: Eriksen examined how globalization shapes identities.
92. Sahra Gibbon — Medical Anthropology: Gibbon explored the ethical implications of biotechnology in healthcare.
93. Sarah Green (1966-present) — Material Culture: Green studied how consumption shapes social identities.
94. Michael Herzfeld (1947-present) — Cultural Power: Herzfeld explored how social structures shape daily experiences.
95. Laura Nader (1930-present) — Legal Anthropology: Nader examined how legal systems operate in different cultural contexts.
96. Judith Butler (1956-present) — Gender Theory: Butler's work on performativity challenges traditional gender binaries.
97. Renato Rosaldo (1941-present) — Emotions and Citizenship: Rosaldo studied the role of emotions in cultural practices.
98. Karen Strassler (1970-present) — Media Anthropology: Strassler analyzed the intersection of media and politics.
99. Valerio Valeri (1944–1998) — Polynesia: Valeri explored the role of ritual in political power in Polynesian societies.
100. Claudio Lomnitz (1955-present) — Mexico: Lomnitz examined social movements and nationalism in Mexico.

Implications

1. Challenging Western Perspectives: Many anthropologists critique dominant Western views, emphasizing the importance of diverse cultural contexts.
2. Rethinking Power Dynamics: Their work highlights power dynamics at multiple levels, from individual interactions to institutional frameworks.
3. Expanding Identity Notions: Their research deepens our understanding of identity, revealing its complexity and social construction.
4. Engaging with Globalization: They explore globalization's effects on cultures, traditions, and social relationships.
5. Interrogating Gender and Sexuality: Their research highlights diverse gender identities and challenges binary frameworks.
6. Environmental Awareness: Many examine human-environment relationships, emphasizing their interdependence.
7. Ethics and Advocacy: Several anthropologists focus on ethical considerations and advocate for social justice.
8. Critiquing Colonial Legacies: They interrogate colonialism's lasting impacts on indigenous cultures and socio-economic disparities.
9. Reinterpreting History: Many examine alternative historical narratives to uncover overlooked voices.
10. Reflexive Anthropology: Their work often demonstrates reflexivity in research, acknowledging the researcher’s influence on knowledge production.
11. Multidisciplinary Collaborations: They engage with other disciplines to address complex social issues.
12. Nuanced Social Structures: Their research uncovers complexities within social structures, encouraging dynamic analyses.

What Should You Do Now?

1. Read Their Works: Familiarize yourself with these anthropologists to gain a deeper understanding of their theories and findings.
2. Explore Related Topics: Delve into areas that resonate with you, whether it's gender, globalization, or other fields.
3. Undertake Interdisciplinary Study: Recognize the intersections of social anthropology with other disciplines for a multi-faceted perspective.
4. Engage in Critical Thinking: Develop critical thinking skills by analyzing societal structures and questioning dominant narratives.
5. Advocate for Social Justice: Get involved in initiatives that align with the principles of social justice and human rights.
6. Support Marginalized Communities: Seek ways to uplift and support marginalized communities highlighted in anthropological research.
7. Conduct Fieldwork or Research: Consider engaging in fieldwork or research aligned with the methodologies explored by these anthropologists.
8. Encourage Dialogue and Collaboration: Promote discussions among scholars and practitioners from various fields to foster innovative solutions to social issues.
9. Promote Ethical Research Practices: Emphasize ethical practices in research, prioritizing informed consent and participant well-being.
10. Share Knowledge and Findings: Contribute to knowledge dissemination through publications, talks, or social platforms to bridge academia and society.

Fahri Karakas is the author of Self-making Studio, If Life Gives You A Squash, Squash It!, and 99 Creative Journeys: Unleash Your Imagination. He is passionate about doodling, creativity, asset creation, and the future.