ABSTRACT
In the preceding chapters, the ideas of prominent French Marxist anthropologists have been used to analyse empirical findings, mainly data from anthropological field-work. The present chapter will be more theoretical in scope. Resuming the line of the argument set forth in chapter 1, I intend to trace here how the discussion among French Marxist anthropologists has in fact developed. The concept of 'mode of production' has remained a central theme in this discussion. The anthropologists involved still appear to hold clearly different views as to how old, pre-capitalist modes of production should be identified and analysed. Their different views on this point, moreover, are decisive for other aspects of their theoretical thinking, and for the limitations thereof.
