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Three leading anthropologists, Prof Maurice Gondolier, Prof Adam Kuper and Prof Henrietta Moore, join Laurie Taylor to explore the meaning of kinship.

Kinship is a key term in Anthropology. It describes the genealogical and biological ties which bind human beings to each other. The French anthropologist, Maurice Godelier, tells Laurie Taylor about his groundbreaking study into the evolution of kinship as a reality, as well as a concept. He disputes the idea that it constitutes the original building block of society; arguing instead that political and religious allegiances cut across family groups. He also suggests that traditional ideas of 'kinship' are complicated by the modern day transformation in family forms. The celebrated British anthropologists, Henrietta Moore and Adam Kuper, join the debate.

Producer: Jayne Egerton.

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28 minutes

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  • Wed 13 Jun 2012 16:00
  • Mon 18 Jun 2012 00:15

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