Expectations of Modernity: Myths and Meanings of Urban Life on the Zambian Copperbelt
by James Ferguson
Perspectives on Southern Africa (57)
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Once lauded as the wave of the African future, Zambia's economic boom in the 1960's and early 1970's was fueled by the export of copper and other primary materials. Since the mid-1970's, however, the urban economy has rapidly deteriorated, leaving workers scrambling to get by. Expectations of Modernity explores the social and cultural responses to this prolonged period of sharp economic decline. Focusing on the experiences of mineworkers in the Copperbelt region, James Ferguson traces the show more failure of standard narratives of urbanization and social change to make sense of the Copperbelt's recent history. He instead develops alternative analytic tools appropriate for an "ethnography of decline. "Ferguson shows how the Zambian copper workers understand their own experience of social, cultural, and economic "advance" and "decline." Ferguson's ethnographic study transports us into their lives-the dynamics of their relations with family and friends, as well as copper companies and government agencies. Theoretically sophisticated and vividly written, Expectations of Modernity will appeal not only to those interested in Africa today, but to anyone contemplating the illusory successes of today's globalizing economy. show lessTags
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4+ Works 385 Members
James Ferguson is Susan S. and William H. Hindle Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences and Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Stanford University. He is the author of Global Shadows: Africa in the Neoliberal World Order and the coeditor of Culture, Power, Place: Explorations in Critical Anthropology, both also published by show more Duke University Press. show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Expectations of Modernity: Myths and Meanings of Urban Life on the Zambian Copperbelt
- Important places
- Zambia
- Original language
- English
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- Genres
- Anthropology, Religion & Spirituality, History, Politics and Government, Nonfiction, Economics, Music, Art & Design, Philosophy, Business, Food & Cooking, Science & Nature, Biography & Memoir, Reference, General Nonfiction, Technology, Sports and Leisure
- DDC/MDS
- 306.096894 — Society, government, & culture Social sciences, sociology & anthropology Social Behavior - Dating, Marriage, Divorce Social history Africa South Africa and Africa, Southern
- LCC
- GN657 .R4 .F47 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Anthropology Anthropology Ethnology. Social and cultural anthropology Ethnic groups and races By region or country
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- English
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- Paper, Ebook
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- 5
