Elementary Structures Reconsidered

Elementary Structures Reconsidered offers a critical analysis of Claude Lévi-Strauss’s seminal work Les Structures élémentaires de la parenté, a landmark in social anthropology that has significantly influenced the field. Lévi-Strauss’s theory of kinship systems, which he presents as a general theory, asserts that kinship terminologies are not merely descriptive of biological relationships but are based on social categories that reflect systems of exchange, particularly marriage. His distinction between closed and open systems of exchange forms the core of his typology, with closed systems prescribing specific rules for marriage and kinship, while open systems leave room for more flexibility. The critique offered in this monograph focuses on testing and reassessing Lévi-Strauss's ideas, examining whether they provide meaningful insights into the nature of kinship systems and whether his classification of kinship structures holds up against empirical analysis.

The author critically engages with Lévi-Strauss’s claims about the prescriptive nature of kinship systems, questioning whether these propositions truly offer a general theory applicable to all kinship systems or whether they are simply a repackaging of earlier anthropological work. Drawing from a tradition of scholars such as Durkheim, Mauss, Kroeber, and Hocart, the monograph investigates the empirical and theoretical foundations of Lévi-Strauss’s approach, offering alternative perspectives and highlighting ambiguities in his writing. While Lévi-Strauss’s influence on the study of kinship is undeniable, the monograph argues that his theories, though insightful, need to be critically re-examined and that his vision of a final, conclusive theory of kinship may still leave room for further innovation in the field.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1973.