Anthropology Matters Journal, 2005, Vol. 7 (2).

Part One: The Politics of Publishing.

Part Two: New Research.

Editorial: The politics of publishing in anthropology: introductory remarks

Ian Harper (University of Edinburgh) and Rebecca Marsland (SOAS)

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Articles

Part One: The Politics of Publishing

Can't publish and be damned

Daniel Miller (University College London)

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The politics of publishing: a case study from Nepal

Pratyoush Onta (Martin Chautari) and Ian Harper (University of Edinburgh)

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Interview with Professor Ronnie Frankenberg on publishing in anthropology and sociology

Christine Barry (Brunel University)

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Part Two: New Research

Incorporating incomers and creating kinship in the Scottish Highlands

Kimberley Masson (University of Edinburgh)

This article challenges the common perception of Scottish kinship as a matter of clans and tartans by presenting relatedness in the Highland region as performative, processual, and incorporative. This involves a close look at the treatment of incomers and the language practices which appear to activate these forward-looking kinship patterns. The article is situated in - and about - Highland houses where everyday kinship and language use is exemplified. The purpose of the paper is to encourage a rethink of Highland 'community' and the effects of historical migration while reiterating the centrality of kinship studies in anthropology.

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Pluralism, parallel medical practices and the question of tension: the Philippines experience

Md. Nazrul Islam (Department of Sociology, University of Hong Kong)

Pluralism and the co-existence of a variety of different medical systems within a chosen context are common features in various settings. How do the different systems or practices interact? Is it plausible to develop an integrated health system (combining both biomedical and alternative medicines) within the national system in a medically pluralist society? This study was set in the urban slum of Balubad, located in Marikina city, The Philippines. It employed qualitative research methods, including individual interviews with a semi-structured questionnaire, and informal discussions. Two categories of respondent were selected by systematic and purposive sampling, and included community female and male respondents and practitioners of different healing systems. I found three significant trends: firstly, biomedical and alternative health practices exist in parallel but are not mixed. Secondly, there is little possibility of biomedical and alternative health professionals working together; they prefer to stay separate. Finally, although there is enormous socio-economic disparity between biomedical professionals and alternative healers, there is no tension between the two groups.

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