Toward an Anthropology of Government

The establishment of the National Assembly for Wales in 1999 marked a significant shift in Welsh governance, providing a parliament after centuries. This book, grounded in anthropological research, explores the complexities of power legitimacy in Wales. It presents William Schumann's argument that, despite democratic intentions, political practices reveal contradictions that both empower elected officials and reinforce Wales' subordinate position within the broader hierarchies of the UK and EU.