Monday, September 15, 2008

Essays on Sosial Anthropology of the Malays.

Essays on Sosial Anthropology of the Malays. 2001. Penerbit UKM: Bangi. ISBN 967-942-494-4 (paperback). 198 pp. RM 30.00. Shamsul A.B (ed.)

This book is a collection of essays written by a well-known social anthropologist, the late M. G. Swift. Collected, edited and introduced by Professor Shamsul A. B. one of Swift’s former student. The essays in this volume deals with economic anthropology, the relation of economy to society in the rural communities and the relationship between economic theory and the theory of social relations. Student, researchers, planners, administrator and the lay public will find the issues of economic and social changes discussed in these essays not only interesting but significant in helping them understand the nature of Malay society and its response to the modern world. Although economic and political conditions in the Malay society have drastically changed since Swift wrote these essays in 1950s and 1960s, the latter still provide valuable sources of information and insights in order to understand the background of the society of the present. In fact these essays provide valuable sources of information and insights in order to understand the background of the society of the present. In fact these essays provide a model of Malay social organization prevailing then. Focussing particularly on process of concentration of capital and reinforcement of a status system founded on wealth, with possible transfer of social assets into other than peasant hands, these essays eloquently advance a series of proporsitions about adjustment in the allocation resources over time in a Southeast Asian rural economy.

SHAMSUL AMRI BAHARUDDIN, Ph. D., a Professor of Anthropology and Sociology, currently is the Director of Institute of Malay World and Civilization (ATMA).


Published by:

Penerbit UKM

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600, Bangi, Selangor,

Malaysia.

Fax no: 03-89254575

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