Published on December 2025 | social anthropology, classical evolutionism, diffusionism, historical particularism, functionalism, structural-functionalism, structuralism

From Evolutionism to Postmodernism: A Critical Synthesis of Major Theoretical Traditions in Social Anthropology

The study is situated within the disciplinary domains of Social Anthropology, Sociology, and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, with important intersections in legal studies, political sociology, and cultural theory. The paper critically examines the historical evolution and intellectual foundations of anthropological theory, tracing its development from early evolutionist frameworks to postmodern, poststructural, feminist, and postcolonial critiques. Through a comprehensive theoretical synthesis, the article highlights anthropology as a dynamic and dialogical discipline shaped by changing epistemologies, methodologies, and socio-political contexts.