Los límites en antropología: prácticas y representaciones

Abstract

This article analyzes the diverse usages of the term li-mit within the anthropological field. Its metaphoricalusage has been related to the word border and often itevokes certain characteristics of such discipline. In re-gards to its referential usage, anthropology employsthis term in order to make distinctions among social, cul-tural and ethnic groups. This article examines the wayin which this term has been changing within anthro-pological studies since identitarian limits among groupswere believed to be static. However, since Fredrik Barth’scontribution, limits among different groups are believedto be dynamic, changing as well as transitory. Withinthe current global context, it becomes rather complicatedto talk about limits in a traditional way. The latter maybe a factor of disorientation to individuals when definingtheir identity and becoming members of their group andat the same time it may revindicate and enhance un-known ethnic identities.

Keywords

• limit
• border
• ethnic identity
• globalization
• ethnic group