--- product_id: 19711833 title: "Expectations of Modernity: Myths and Meanings of Urban Life on the Zambian Copperbelt (Perspectives on Southern Africa) (Volume 57)" brand: "james ferguson" price: "VT14173" currency: VUV in_stock: true reviews_count: 6 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/19711833-expectations-of-modernity-myths-and-meanings-of-urban-life-on store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # Expectations of Modernity: Myths and Meanings of Urban Life on the Zambian Copperbelt (Perspectives on Southern Africa) (Volume 57) **Brand:** james ferguson **Price:** VT14173 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Expectations of Modernity: Myths and Meanings of Urban Life on the Zambian Copperbelt (Perspectives on Southern Africa) (Volume 57) by james ferguson - **How much does it cost?** VT14173 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/19711833-expectations-of-modernity-myths-and-meanings-of-urban-life-on) ## Best For - james ferguson enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted james ferguson brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Full description not available ## Images ![Expectations of Modernity: Myths and Meanings of Urban Life on the Zambian Copperbelt (Perspectives on Southern Africa) (Volume 57) - Image 1](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41xAqwrUxJL.jpg) ![Expectations of Modernity: Myths and Meanings of Urban Life on the Zambian Copperbelt (Perspectives on Southern Africa) (Volume 57) - Image 2](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Knk7fQOTL.jpg) ![Expectations of Modernity: Myths and Meanings of Urban Life on the Zambian Copperbelt (Perspectives on Southern Africa) (Volume 57) - Image 3](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/315X8NKdQGL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great introduction to the anthropology of modernity *by C***C on Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2014* For those familiar with the field of anthropology, the topic of modernity is a familiar one, even as expected one. Much ink in the 1980s and 1990s has been dedicated to this hotly debated and contested topic. The reason why modernity is so contested lies in its teleology, its expectation of an end - that the underdeveloped peoples in the Global South will eventually catch up with the western world to become truly modern. Critics then argue that there's no such thing as modernity because it is absurd to assume that all countries march towards the same goals since the very nature of goals is a subjective one.This is the background against which James Ferguson writes his well thought and sensitive ethnography. Rather than validating the finality of the modernity telos (proponents of modernity theory) or dismissing it altogether (critics of modernity) Ferguson focuses on the impact and consequences the very discourse of modernity (one taken on not only by anthropologists but states, corporations and media outlets) has of everyday people.Ferguson begins by acknowledging and deconstructing the discourse of modernity by looking at the history of Zambia from the 1950s onwards. Once hailed as the pearl of Africa due to its copper industry, the sudden drop in commodity prices in the 1970s took its toll on local people who did in fact embark and bought into the discourse of modernity. Workers in the copper fields in Zambia had to deal with the expectation of modernity and the realization that such dreams could no longer be fulfilled.Despite the dramatic economic decline, the discourse of modernity was still there (in Zambia and elsewhere) and it impacted locals in many and profound ways. So the book is both about modernity-making statecraft (with wives of miners being trained into the arts of modern domestic lives), the expectations of retirement (life after work in a modern age) but also the modernity of abjection - where locals develop a sense not only that modernity isn't happening but that modernity in backing in reverse, thus becoming a backwards evolution - and how people think of this reality, how they navigate socially (from the village or the city and viceversa) and how they experience and try to make sense of the many of the pitfalls of their social and economic endeavors.This is an excellent book not only because of its rich theoretical implications but also because of how Ferguson manages to make a very complex topic accessible to the the reader by presenting the history and debates within the field of modernization theory.After reading this book, the buyer should expect:1. To understand the debate around modernization theory (what both supporters and critics have to say about it).2. To understand Ferguson's own take on modernity (which takes a non-liniar, non modernist trajectory)3. To read vivid, often times dramatic ethnographic accounts from the field.4. To be infinitely enriched intellectually around a topic we often talk about without fully understanding what we're saying. :)I strongly recommend this book. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Stars *by M***X on Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2014* The book was in perfect condition but the book itself was not the most enticing read. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ the Chair of Anthropology at Stanford whose book "The Anti-Politics Machine" provides the best academic explaoination of why Basotho love cows takes on ... *by J***Z on Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2017* Fergusen, the Chair of Anthropology at Stanford whose book "The Anti-Politics Machine" provides the best academic explaoination of why Basotho love cows takes on Zambian urbanization in this volume. Once one gets past the extremely dense methodological stuff--which takes a while--there's some interesting thoughts on why Zambia, which appeared rich at the time of independence, fell off the map economically and the nature of the transformation (or not) from village dweller to townsperson. He offers some especially interesting insights into the fear that townspeople have of returning to their villages with money in the pocket, including fears of being targeted by witchcraft and physical violence. I tend to think he badly underrates the role of nationalization of the copper mines in Zambia's economic collapse--it's not just that prices went down. If you have a particular interest in Zambia, urbanization, or anthropology, it's a good read, otherwise it's just too dense to be worth it. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/19711833-expectations-of-modernity-myths-and-meanings-of-urban-life-on](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/19711833-expectations-of-modernity-myths-and-meanings-of-urban-life-on) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-05-11*