States of Imagination

"[A] most welcome addition to an important new anthropological project. . . . The volume's eclectic character also contributes its greatest strength, that is, the offer of an unconstrained and dynamic conception of 'state'. For those wishing to explore such boundaries, or rather the lack thereof, States of Imagination is certainly a most fruitful place to begin." - John Friedman , Cambridge Journal of Anthropology

"[A] provocative, lucid, and wide-ranging set of essays. . . . " - Manu Goswami , Comparative Studies in Society and History

"[T]his collection is a useful intervention in theories and research on the state and its modernist legacies. For that, I would recommend the book and its adoption in upper-undergraduate-and graduate-level classes." - Jyoti Puri, American Journal of Sociology

"[T]his provocative and well-balanced collection attests to ethnography's continuing power for critiquing orthodox political theory." - Peter Sutherland , American Ethnologist

"As a whole, the book makes a significant contribution to the recent critical thinking and research on the state from political anthropology, and has much to offer to sociologists. It is uncommon to find such a tightly focused edited volume that is also brimming with intellectual vitality. Such quality work makes the reading highly rewarding." - Akiko Hashimoto , Contemporary Sociology

“This outstanding volume contains an excellent introductory discussion of current trends of thinking and research on the state. The first-rate articles by a mix of well- and less-known scholars are sophisticated, nuanced, and accessible.” - George Marcus, author of Ethnography Through Thick and Thin

“With its wealth of empirical description coming from all parts of the postcolonial world, this book is an immensely valuable contribution to the new ethnography of the state. Hansen and Stepputat have put together a richly varied but carefully organized and theoretically productive set of studies.” - Partha Chatterjee, Columbia University