The contemporary era of globalization and the spread of\ntransnational governance have altered conventional understandings\nof the nation, of nation-state sovereignty, and of territoriality.\nIn The Anthropology of the State, editors Aradhana Sharma and Akhil\nGupta contend that these changed conditions necessitate that we\nrethink rule, more broadly, as well as the institutions, practices,\nand processes that make up “the state.” The volume outlines an\nanthropological framework for doing so-one that foregrounds\nquestions of culture and transnationalism-and maps potential\ndirections for future study of “the state.” The Anthropology of the\nState introduces some of the most exciting approaches to the study\nof the state in a transnational world. This volume is unique in\nthat it stresses the interplay between theory, ethnography,\nhistory, and critique. It brings together classic and contemporary\ntheoretical examinations of the state along with cutting-edge\nethnographic analyses of specific state practices, institutions,\nand ideas in diverse geographical locations and historical periods.\nThe articles in this volume are presented for students and scholars\nin a range of disciplines such as anthropology, sociology,\npolitical economy, and postcolonial studies.

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