Toward an Anthropology of Government

Focusing on the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales in 1999, the book explores the emergence of a distinct parliamentary culture in Wales. Through anthropological fieldwork, it examines the complexities of power legitimacy and the paradox of political practices that both empower elected officials and reinforce Wales's subordinate position within the broader hierarchies of the UK and EU. William Schumann presents a compelling argument about the tensions between representation and institutional constraints, offering a critical perspective on Welsh democracy.