
Mistrust - An Ethnographic Theory
Matthew Carey(Author)
Hau (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 15. October 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
146 pages
978-0-9973675-2-2 (ISBN)
Description
Trust occupies a unique place in contemporary discourse. Seen as both necessary and virtuous, it is variously depicted as enhancing the social fabric, lowering crime rates, increasing happiness, and generating prosperity. It allows for complex political systems, permits human communication, underpins financial instruments and economic institutions, and generally holds society together. Against these overwhelmingly laudable qualities, mistrust often goes unnoticed as a positive social phenomenon, treated as little more than a corrosive absence, a mere negative of trust itself. With this book, Matthew Carey proposes an ethnographic and conceptual exploration of mistrust that raises it up as legitimate stance in its own right. While mistrust can quickly ruin relationships and even dissolve extensive social ties, Carey shows that it might have other values. Drawing on fieldwork in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains as well as comparative material from regions stretching from Eastern Europe to Melanesia, he examines the impact of mistrust on practices of conversation and communication, friendship and society, and politics and cooperation.
In doing so, he demonstrates that trust is not the only basis for organizing human society and cooperating with others. The result is a provocative but enlightening work that makes us rethink social issues such as suspicion, doubt, and uncertainty.
In doing so, he demonstrates that trust is not the only basis for organizing human society and cooperating with others. The result is a provocative but enlightening work that makes us rethink social issues such as suspicion, doubt, and uncertainty.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
IL
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 227 mm
Width: 151 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
274 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-9973675-2-2 (9780997367522)
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Person
Matthew Carey is assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Copenhagen.