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Introduction
It can be said that anthropologists are one of the most ambitious and bravest scientists since their ultimate goals are to analyze every aspect of humanity and understand its complex, contradictory, and sometimes mystical nature. They have developed various methodologies, approaches, and concepts to achieve this during the existence of anthropology as a scientific discipline. Structure and agency are one of those theories; they were designed to describe and explain human motivational factors, constraints, intentions, and actions (Bourgois, 2003). Understanding them is necessary to conduct anthropological research successfully.
Two Approaches in Anthropological Analysis
Both approaches serve to analyze, describe, and rationalize various social processes, their causes, and consequences. Although anthropologists explore “the relationship between individual responsibility and social structural constraints” by applying both approaches, they contradict each other conceptually (Bourgois, 2003, p. 17). Proponents of structure, also called structuralists, believe that the current social hierarchy and its internal processes determine an individual’s opportunities, actions, and behavior. This perspective provides one with methodological tools necessary to analyze societal mechanisms and phenomena that cannot be entirely attributed to a single person, such as culture. From an anthropological point of view, culture is complete complex with a constant and constantly changing set of shared ideas, morals, principles, beliefs, and habits (Bourgois, 2003). Sociologists following the agency approach argue that the individual influences the society in which they live and that the person’s actions are independent. The agency perspective provides researchers with a theoretical framework for exploring human behaviors and social roles. Together, these two approaches cover the two sides of each community, the individual and the collective.
History in Anthropological Research
History is a science close to anthropology because it also examines social processes and humanity but through the prism of time. An overview of the historical past of the United States and Puerto Rico allowed Bourgois to understand the major and minor causes of the plight in El Barrio. According to him, “ever since their arrival in the United States they have been despised and humiliated with a virulence that is specific to North America’s history of polarized race relations and ethnically segmented immigrant labor markets” (Bourgois, 2003, p. 53). History provides an important background that explains many of the current socio-economic, cultural, and even environmental conditions in the community.
Structure and Agency in Bourgois’ Book
The author perfectly understands both approaches and the contradiction between them. Bourgois admits that he “cannot resolve the structure – versus – nature debate” (Bourgois, 2003, p. 18). He skillfully analyzes the personal histories of crack dealers, the local cultures of the Puerto Rican people in the United States and the principles of functioning of the El Barrio community, and the historical context. He also asks crack dealers about the structure versus agency dilemma and provides readers with a glimpse into their understanding of the societal relationships (Bourgois, 2003). The anthropologist is fully aware that truth cannot be achieved with only one methodology.
Conclusion
This paper discusses the two fundamental concepts of anthropology, structure, and agency. It should also be mentioned that this work also explores Bourgois’ view of these two theories and the application of history to anthropology. It can be concluded that both methodologies are necessary for a comprehensive study of the individual and the society in which they live. It has also been found that anthropology and history are mutually complementary disciplines, especially in the study of local and marginalized communities.
Reference
Bourgois, P. (2003). In search of respect: Selling crack in El Barrio. Cambridge University Press.
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