Hello again,
Well, I suppose I assumed that in a doctoral thesis, the imperative to
put one's issue of study in its sociohistorical context was pretty much
a given; I thought you must have been referring to something more
specific to the issue in question. Regarding politics, culture, etc. as
confounding variables, I think it was clear that I did not mean to say
that this was all they were -- culture IS what I study -- but simply
that in the context of the study suggested, in which consumerism and
media were to be causally linked, such factors might seriously
compromise the usefulness of the 'data'.
As for anthropology, it is noble of you not to associate the field with
the sort of "exclusionary scientific practices" I must have
inadvertently implied -- indeed, anthropologists study a tremendously
wide array of issues. As it now stands, however, most doctoral students
in cultural anthropology here in the U.S. are expected to perform
ethnographic fieldwork which, along with thorough research on the
literature of their subject (the old 'sociohistorical context' would
likely come into play here), form the basis of their dissertations.
Thus, the questions they are encouraged to ask are ones in which
ethnography would play a critical role in investigating. I don't mean to
defend or even discuss this inter-relationship, except to note that this
is what is expected of me and my dissertation. This is why I wrote that
I would be looking at the question more from local, village perspective
than the international level suggested. This is not to say that I will
not generalize, to a responsible degree, from my study, nor that I won't
look at literature about cultures around the globe -- clearly, I would
have to -- but simply that the focus of my research question must be one
in which local ethnography plays a role. This was the only 'point' I was
trying -- rather unsuccessfully, it seems -- to make.
I myself am not convinced that there is, in fact, "always hope", but I'm
reassured by your apparent certainty. As for the question I was asking
about a potential human "instinct" toward consumerism, I admire your
confidence at classifying it, but would have to say that this specific
question is more psychological than anything else. Global systems may
govern the hegemony of the market, along with its increasing ubiquity,
but the susceptibility of individuals and local cultures to its allure
(as heralded by the arrival of Western media) is far from being a purely
politico-economic equation. This is where ethnographic research might be
able to shed some light.
Anyway, thanks to everyone who sent me references -- I am in the process
of looking them all up. Please send more, if they occur to you -- I'm
finding them very useful. I look forward to reading Dr. Chase-Dunn's
book, as well. When will it be arriving at a book store near me?
Thanks again,
Gareth