Hunter-Gatherer Transformations and Mixed Economies: A Case Study from Alaska

Author(s)

Alberto Buela

Abstract

This paper presents a materialist research strategy for the study of historical processes of change among hunter-gatherers, as they become incorporated into industrial society. Two aspects are discussed: 1) a theoretical model of sociocultural systems for categorising phenomena, and 2) a theoretical principle for identifying causal relationships. The approach is illustrated with a case study on the transformations of an Alaskan Inupiaq community, touching on several aspects of sociocultural life, including population, subsist- ence, technology, social organisation, economy, and politics. The focus lies on the changing role of the hunting economy and its related institutions.

Organisation(s)

Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology

Journal

Journal für Entwicklungspolitik (JEP)

Volume

32

Pages

17–40

No. of pages

24

ISSN

0258-2384

DOI

https://doi.org/10.20446/JEP-2414-3197-32-4-17

Publication date

2016

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

504017 Cultural anthropology

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geography, Planning and Development, Development

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/0ac6cf13-5d5f-4e21-ba22-f8ff145240ea