Comparisons as anticipatory and relational practice

Abstract

Comparisons play a central role in socio-spatial and cultural localizations. They are a necessary requirement for establishing difference, which actors require in order to position themselves in society. In this article, I discuss comparisons from the perspective of European ethnology and, in particular, shed light on the role of anticipation and relationality in comparisons. For this purpose, the first step is a discussion of the criteria for quantitative and qualitative comparison. Next, the relationship between comparisons and expe Show more