Inventing Western Tradition

Abstract

Patterson, professor of Anthropology and author of several books on human society, from a Marxist perspective, publishes a beautiful book that aims to question the concept of “civilization” as an abstraction that transcends society. In his first chapter, “Inventing civilization” (p. 9-25), Patterson begins by citing the crusade of the American conservative leader, Newt Gingrich, in favor of American civilization, which would be threatened by cultural diversity.