The Contested Commons: Conversations Between Economists and Anthropologists

Interdisciplinary work in the social sciences is challenging. While sometimes similar in their research themes, the large variance in the histories and methods of different disciplines tends to hinder constructive communication. The Contested Commons explores the theme of common environmental resources from the perspective of two disciplines that are often considered to be far apart: economics and anthropology.  Written by senior scholars in economics, anthropology, sociology, and political science, this volume focuses on methodological and epistemological approaches to the analysis of local common-pool resources. This is a topic that touches upon economic security, ecological sustainability, identity formation, and participatory decision-making particularly in the developing world. The essays in this volume illustrate the wide variation in approaches to research itself, both across and within economics and anthropology. This volume will be of interest to scholars, students and researchers of economics, sociology, politics, political theory and development studies.