Social Anthropology in the "Other Europe." Uncertainties and Troubles

Following a brief sketch of ethnological research history in communist Slovenia, the origins of social anthropology in this country are traced, & the discipline's academic status at the U of Ljubljana & the undergraduate courses offered since 1990 are presented. The theoretical & methodological foundations on which the science should be practiced in Slovenia & the focus on theoretical speculation vs empirical fieldwork favored by young Slovenian social anthropologists are examined. The concept of "Western academic imperialism" is introduced to discuss the inappropriateness of transplanting scientific paradigms developed at Western universities to social anthropology of Eastern & Central Europe. Slovenian anthropologists are cautioned not to accept at face value the approaches & models elaborated in the West, in particular, Bronislaw Malinowski's brand of anthropology. 18 References. Z. Dubiel