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Cited by 0Anthropological Studies and InsightsAnthropology: Ethics, History, CultureUrban and sociocultural dynamics

Political polarization and the liberal bias: A plea for an anthropology of the popular

Open access
Mandache, Luminiţa-Anda·2026·Human Organization
DOI 10.1080/00187259.2025.2561702
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Abstract

In this article, I question whether and how an engaged anthropology of the full political spectrum is possible. I propose the term anthropology of the popular to describe an approach of mobilizing ethnographic methods to expose and overcome social divisions and polarization. The anthropology of the popular is one where the anthropologist sees beyond the foil of present-day polarizations to build opportunities for dialogue and bridges where there are too few. In defining the subject of research, it is inspired by literature about emancipatory populism that associates the subaltern classes with victims of capitalism’s uneven development. The approach puts anthropological knowledge and skills to work to solve local problems and translate solutions into local languages and artifacts that can circulate when the anthropologist is no longer present, such as the cordel literature, as illustrated here in a case study in a peripheral neighborhood in Northeast Brazil.

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Crossref · 10.1080/00187259.2025.2561702

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Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. Barreira, I. A. F. 1998. Chuva de Papéis: Ritos e Símbolos de Campanhas Eleitorais No Brasil. Coleção Antropologia Da Política. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Relume Dumará, Núcleo de Antropologia da Política.
  2. Belmino, S. H. 2018. Sinta Na Pele Esta Magia: A Propaganda Turística Do Ceará (1987 - 1994). Fortaleza, Brazil: Imprensa Universitária da UFC.
  3. Goodale, M. 2021. “Putting Down the Conjurer’s Wand: Toward an Anthropology of the Full Spectrum.” Zeitschrift Für Ethnologie 146 (1/ (2): 193–200.
  4. Heredia, B. M. A., and M. G. S. Palmeira. 2006. “O Voto Como Adesão.” In Imaginários Sociais Em Movimento: Oralidade e Escrita Em Contextos Multiculturais, 281–298. Fortaleza, Brazil: Edições UFC.
  5. Roxo, B. P. 2010. “O Cordel Como Mídia Alternativa Em Programas de Saúde e Educação Ambiental.” Revista Extraprensa 3 (3): 680–689.
  6. 10.1080/03066150.2017.1339693 · DOI

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Authors
Mandache, L.-A.
Affiliations
University of Salzburg (AT)
Corresponding author
Mandache, Luminiţa-Anda
ORCID
Mandache, Luminiţa-Anda
Venue
Human Organization
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2025-09-25
Volume
85
Issue
1
Pages
107-119
ISSN
  • 0018-7259 (ISSN-L)
  • 1938-3525
DOI
10.1080/00187259.2025.2561702
OpenAlex
W4414498368
Semantic Scholar
5644d4f1b5d0b961c0a9f414cf37bff79a9bdc66
Cited by
0
References
44
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Human Organization (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • ePLUS (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Austrian Science Fund (10.55776/M3045)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Anthropological Studies and Insights
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Anthropology: Ethics, History, Culture
  • Social Sciences › Urban Studies › Urban and sociocultural dynamics
Keywords
political polarization, liberal bias, subaltern groups, social division, cordel literature, peripheral neighborhoods, Northeast Brazil, uneven development

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