Final answer:
Anthropology emerged in the context of colonialism and the Industrial Revolution, challenging ethnocentric views with studies like 'African Political Systems'. Economic interests fueled colonial expansion, influencing the study of non-Western societies. Today, anthropology seeks to reverse its colonial legacies and contribute to a more holistic understanding of cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The emergence of anthropology as a discipline was heavily influenced by the socio-political and economic changes of the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly colonialism, the Industrial Revolution, and the resultant global economic expansion. The administrative context of colonial rule allowed anthropologists to study non-Western societies, leading to revelations that contradicted European ethnocentric assumptions about Indigenous political systems, such as those in Africa. Pioneering works like African Political Systems illuminated the complex and well-organized political structures existing in African societies. Meanwhile, economic forces related to colonial exploitation spurred interest in how non-Western societies were influenced by and could potentially integrate with the colonial powers' economies.
Anthropologists initially categorized political systems based on whether they had centralized leadership, further exploring how subsistence patterns and political systems were interrelated. Additionally, anthropology has grappled with its role in promoting ethnocentric views and aiding colonialism, as well as evaluating the interrelation between various societal elements, such as the influence of new cash crops on gender relations in Ghana. Contemporary anthropological studies aim to deconstruct these legacies and advance a more equitable understanding of cultures worldwide. By acknowledging the historical issues related to anthropologists serving as cultural experts and their role in colonial endeavors, the field is now looking for ways to reverse these practices and create a more respectful and multidisciplinary approach to studying human societies.