New Horizons for the Alps

Overview & Synopsis

With a fresh view on contemporary Alpine anthropology, this volume provides a comprehensive examination of ethnographic research in the Alpine region and addresses socio-cultural transformations driven by climate change, tourism and a variety of economic and environmental pressures. By bringing together diverse perspectives from a range of contributors who reflect on their fieldwork experiences and the evolving dynamics of Alpine communities, it aims to fill a significant gap in the anthropology of the Alps. Drawing on a rich collection of ethnographic studies, this book reveals the intersection of local practices with global forces such as industrial agriculture, tourism and height technology. The three thematic sections examine enduring cultural practices, changing landscapes as well as transforming relationships between people and the land. Viewing the Alps as a microcosm of global change, this volume offers new anthropological insights into the Alpine region and beyond. New Horizons for the Alps is both a critical reflection on the state of Alpine anthropology and an invitation to future research that recognises the complexity of human-environment interactions.