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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Social Analysis: The International Journal of Anthropology |
| Volume | 62 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 76-95 |
| ISSN | 0155-977X |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2018 |
Keywords
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- belonging
- freedom
- moral obligation
- mutuality
- possession
- subjectivity
- Vietnam