Anti-Utopia : Essential Writings of Andre Beteille/edited by Dipankar
Gupta. New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2005, viii, 494 p.,
ISBN
0-19-56-7229-1.
Anti-Utopia : Essential Writings of Andre Beteille/edited by Dipankar
Gupta. New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2005, viii, 494 p.,
ISBN
0-19-56-7229-1.
Contents: The anti-Utopian liberal: an introduction to the works of Andre Beteille/Dipankar Gupta. Studying society: academic judgement and common sense: 1. Sociology and anthropology: their relationship in one person's career. 2. Sociology and common sense. 3. Religion as a subject for sociology. Methods and concepts: operationalizing the field: 4. Some observations on the comparative method. 5. Ideas and interests. 6. Tribe and peasantry. 7. Race, caste and gender. Social stratification in India: the dynamics of class, status, and political mobilization: 8. Caste in contemporary India. 9. Caste, class and power. 10. The future of the backward classes: the competing demands of status and power. 11. Class and status. Equality and individualism: the tension between fact and value: 12. The idea of natural inequality. 13. The two sources of inequality. 14. The reproduction of inequality. 15. Individualism and equality. Civil society and institutional well-being: 16. The conflict of norms and values. 17. Equality as a right and as a policy. 18. Distributive justice and institutional well-being. 19. Civil society and the good society. Appendices: 1. My two grandmothers. 2. Interview with Andre Beteille. Index.
"Bringing together the essence of Beteille's ideas and writing, this collection of 19 essays has been specially selected and introduced by Dipankar Gupta. The book is divided into five sections, each of which is devoted to Professor Beteille's varied intellectual interests. The essays range from the significance of the comparative method, to ideas of equality and inequality, and finally to issues regarding civil society and institutional well-being. In each instance, Beteille's characteristic signature of blending theory to Indian reality is clearly evident. It is because of his erudition that he is, unarguably, one of the most quoted scholars on India.
This collection is also evidence that Beteille's political positions are the result of deep intellectual scrutiny--which is why Utopian visions are unappealing to him. His ability to utilize his academic prowess to comment on popular contemporary issues makes Beteille a happy anti-Utopian, for he envisions progress and is ever hopeful." (jacket)