Based on fieldwork in the north Indian state of Rajasthan; this book focuses on supernatural affliction - illness and misfortune ascribed to demonic spirits or ghosts and to other mystical agents; such as sorcerers and witches. The study augments and extends the existing scholarship on a range of issues; including inter alia beliefs about spirit possession; sorcery; witchcraft and the evil eye. The themes of ritual practice; especially exorcism or healing ceremonies; Hindu priests and curers; popular Hinduism and pilgrimage are discussed; and the anthropology of South Asia is explored with an emphasis on medical anthropology and Indian ethnomedicine. At a theoretical level; the book sharply contrasts with much of the literature on spirit possession or on supernatural affliction and its treatment; as the author's phenomenological orientation involves movement away from psychological or psychiatric paradigms as well as from other forms of Western rationalism that have tended to dominate scholarly work. The book thus offers fresh insights; both in terms of understanding supernatural malaise and its treatment; and in terms of the application of the approach the author engages.
#7781374 in Books 2001-01-22Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 6.50 x 1.00l; 1.19 #File Name: 0415178932288 pages
Review
12 of 18 people found the following review helpful. the latest failures of multi-cultural empiresBy Mr. Larry L. StageThis book--'Ethnic nationalism and the fall of Empires' showsthat under the stress of war; elitism; the failure to createand foster common causality; and with no real goal; empireslike the Russian Romanov State; the Ottoman Empire; and theAustro-Hungarian Empire; just will NOT survive.The lessons to be learned is that when there is either nocommon language; or the no attempt to learn the official spokentongue; any nation--especially the United States of America;loyalty will be; at best; illusive. America's strength is indiversity; yet there MUST also be common goals; from a commonheritage. The Romanov Dynasty was never truly able to"Russify" it's vast diverse populations.For the Ottoman Empire; the Turkish language was never acceptedby the majority of it's "citizens"; and in the case of thegrowing Christian Armenian community; it was religion thathelped "do in" the Turkish Ottoman "commonwealth".In the case of Austria-Hungary; the ruling Hapsburg dynastytried to "Austro-Germanize" the growing Slovakian; Czech;Bosnian; and Croat minorities; but could not create a newSwiss-style confederation; with language; cultural; and political autonomy for it's diverse subjects.Also; there never was a major threat or threats during it'screation; that threatened all multi-national elements withinit's borders. The Hapsburgs were Vienna-born-and-bred.For the United States of the 21st Century; the growingHispanic populations MUST be guided towards unity.America MUST be an Organic State; because not to as suchwill lead to national disintegration.Romanov Russia; Ottoman Turkey; and the Austro-HungarianEmpire had the "seeds of destruction" within their respective'corpi-politici'.I recommend this fine book!!Nick Stage-PHDIndiana4 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Untangling the MessBy Steve MarksEver wonder how the messy borders and messy politics of Eastern Europe and the Middle East came into being? Ever try in vain to untangle for yourself or others the confusing and confused history of these regions? Ever try to understand anything about World War I and its aftermath? If you answered yes to these questions; you have come to the right place; the one-stop shop for the subject. Aviel Roshwald's book; "Ethnic Nationalism and the Fall of Empires" sets it all straight. And it does so in remarkably clear and elegant prose. The book is a stunning achievement in historical synthesis that is a "must-read" for anyone calling themselves educated.
