ABSTRACT
Some disciplines are more embedded in the temporary context than others
because they are more prone to changes in the political environment. Area studies can be described as a group of social sciences and humanities put
together with a single meta-purpose: to grasp a geographical entity that is ultimately defined by political interest. Area studies have their roots in the colonial paradigm and hence display a straightforward connection to pragmatic
political goals. To take full advantage of the resources of a distant territory and be able to apply suitable methods to govern, one had to combine a holistic
knowledge of its geography, ethnography, politico-economic systems and culture. Hence, not only multidisciplinarity came along automatically, but also
interdisciplinary discourse because the aim was to provide complex solutions for upcoming problems derived from the practice of control.
