The Network for Contemporary Anthropological Theory is one of the networks (interest groups) of the European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA). The network began as the Network of Ethnographic Theory in 2014 and in 2021 the name was changed to its current one. In renaming the network to the Network for Contemporary Anthropological Theory, we intend to promote and advance anthropological theory and concepts (inclusive of ethnography) to anthropologists and others in and outside of Europe.
As part of the mission of the network, we intend to give space to theories and concepts from across the anthropological spectrum through this website, and to use anthropological concepts to address contemporary concerns, from the anthropocene and artificial intelligence to the global Black Lives Matter movement. Our vision is to break the stigma around theory in anthropology, by making it accessible and insightful, while providing space for new and emerging anthropological concepts. We hope to create a space for anthropological ideas that can guide us to describe 21st century social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental issues.
History
The Network for Ethnographic Theory (NET) started as an arm of the HAU project. Following much-discussed events of 2017 and 2018, the network’s shifted attention away from a formal alliance to HAU while rethinking the potential for ‘ethnographic theory.’ As ethnographic theory is still part of the journal HAU, the new convenors and current members decided a formal name-change would allow the network to pursue its own interests. All posts dating back to the founding of the network made on the website (originally ethnotheory.com) can be found in the archives.