Belonging: Comprehending Subjectivity in Vietnam and Beyond

Tine Gammeltoft

doi:10.3167/sa.2018.620106

Belonging: Comprehending Subjectivity in Vietnam and Beyond

1 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

In this article I explore how a ‘belonging’ perspective can contribute to anthropological reflections on subjectivity and agency. On the basis of two ethnographic cases from Vietnam, I show how people tend to find their bearings in existentially difficult situations by placing themselves within concrete communities of others. Distinguishing between intersubjective, territorial, and political forms of belonging, I discuss anthropological approaches to belonging practices, highlighting the shared analytical assumptions that have underpinned anthropological use of the concept. By placing mutuality and responsiveness at the center of attention, I show that a belonging perspective can help us to think more carefully about the complex ways in which freedom and constraint intertwine in human lives.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Social Analysis: The International Journal of Anthropology
Vol/bind	62
Udgave nummer	1
Sider (fra-til)	76-95
ISSN	0155-977X
DOI	https://doi.org/10.3167/sa.2018.620106
Status	Udgivet - mar. 2018

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10.3167/sa.2018.620106

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Belonging: Comprehending Subjectivity in Vietnam and Beyond

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