Throughout history, the natural human inclination to accumulate social power has led to growth and scale increases that benefit the few at the expense of the many. John Bodley looks at global history through the lens of power and scale theory, and draws on history, economics, anthropology, and sociology to demonstrate how individuals have been the agents of social change, not social classes. Filled with tables and data to support his argument, this book considers how increases in scale nec...

Cultural Anthropology: Tribes, States, and the Global System, Seventh Edition, provides balanced coverage of three dramatically different cultural worlds by focusing on problems of social inequality, human well-being, social justice, and sustainability. Author John Bodley challenges students to consider “big questions” about the nature of cultural systems: How are cultures structured to satisfy basic human needs? What is it like to be human under different cultural conditions? Are DNA, lan...

Drawing from a Society for Applied Anthropology study on human rights and the environment, Who Pays the Price? provides a detailed look at the human experience of environmental crisis. The issues examined span the globe -- loss of land and access to critical resources; contamination of air, water and soil; exposure to radiation, toxic chemicals, and other hazardous wastes. Topics considered in-depth include:human rights and environmental degradationnation-s...

We live in a time of global mega-problems of unsustainable growth and consumption, resource depletion, ecosystem degradation, global warming, escalating energy costs, poverty, and conflict. Cultural anthropologist John H. Bodley trenchantly critiques these most pressing issues and shows how anthropology makes it possible to find solutions. The focus on culture scale suggests that many solutions may be found by developing local communities supported by regional markets and ecosystems, rathe...

Victims of Progress, now in its sixth edition, offers a compelling account of how technology and development affect indigenous peoples throughout the world. Bodley’s expansive look at the struggle between small-scale indigenous societies, and the colonists and corporate developers who have infringed their territories reaches from 1800 into today. He examines major issues of intervention such as social engineering, economic development, self-determination, health and disease, global warming...

In The Small Nation Solution, eminent anthropologist John H. Bodley argues that the contemporary global problems of poverty, conflict, and environmental degradation are problems of scale and power. Bodley’s solution involves keeping nations small so as to limit the power of elite directors. It is a simple idea with profound implications. He spotlights successful small nations around the world as the best working models of sustainable sociocultural systems and shows how these diverse small ...

In "The Life of Sir Thomas Bodley, written by himself," Bodley offers a profound and personal account of his life, intertwined with the rich tapestry of the cultural and intellectual revival of the late Renaissance. His literary style is direct yet reflective, employing a blend of personal narrative and historical commentary that invites readers to engage deeply with the social and political currents of his time. Bodley chronicles his formative years, the challenges he faced, and his visio...

In "The Life of Sir Thomas Bodley, written by himself," the author presents a remarkable autobiographical account that intertwines personal narrative with historical reflection. Bodley's literary style is characterized by clarity and eloquence, embodying the spirit of the Renaissance humanist tradition. He meticulously recounts the vicissitudes of his life, including his formative experiences at Oxford, his diplomatic ventures, and his pivotal role in the establishment of the Bodleian Libr...