How did decolonization after World War II change the questions studied by anthropologists?

Following World War II, the process of decolonization fundamentally reshaped anthropology, moving the discipline away from its historical focus on non-Western "folk" societies toward new inquiries regarding national and transnational phenomena.12

As former colonial empires in Asia and Africa transitioned into independent states, anthropologists were confronted with the rise of national movements. This shift prompted researchers to investigate the cultural dimensions of nationalism and political change. Initially, many scholars adopted modernization theory to analyze how traditional cultural forms, such as kinship, blended with new political institutions. However, this approach faced criticism for being prescriptive rather than descriptive, leading to a broader move toward studying nations as "imagined communities" and exploring the complexities of identity and agency.23

Furthermore, the post-war era saw a shift in the discipline's power dynamics. As non-Western scholars began to challenge Western perspectives, anthropology moved toward a more polycentric and cosmopolitan field. Researchers increasingly focused on issues such as diasporas, transnational flows, and the impact of global media, while also addressing the legacy of colonialism through critical, interpretive, and Marxist-derived frameworks.14256