This companion provides an indispensable overview of contemporary and classical issues in social and cultural anthropology. Although anthropology has expanded greatly over time in terms of the diversity of topics in which its practitioners engage, many of the broad themes and topics at the heart of anthropological thought remain perennially vital, such as understanding order and change, diversity and continuity, and conflict and co-operation in the reproduction of social life. Bringing together leading scholars in the field, the contributors to this volume provide us with thoughtful and fruitful ways of thinking about a number of contemporary and long-standing arenas of work where both established and more recent researchers are engaged. The companion begins by exploring classic topics such as Religion; Rituals; Language and Culture; Violence; and Gender. This is followed by a focus on current developments within the discipline including Human Rights; Globalization; and Diasporas and Cosmopolitanism. It provides an interesting and challenging look at the state of current thinking in anthropology, serving as a rich resource for scholars and students alike. 'This is a rich source of anthropological approaches to significant social and cultural issues across the globe. The subject matter is topical, the contributors are scholars of renown and the analyses are informed by detailed empirical inquiry. The collection is a valuable resource for scholars, teachers, students and general readers.' David Trigger, University of Queensland, Australia 'The editors and authors are to be congratulated for this compelling companion to research in what it means to be human. Twenty anthropologists provide rich synopses of anthropology's intellectual heritage in their critical appraisals of key concepts long central to the discipline - belief systems, ritual, magic, sacrifice, myth, gender, war, violence, globalisation, language change and loss, indigenous knowledge and so on. More than the sum of its parts, this volume situates anthropological research as absolutely essential to understanding humanity's past, present and possible futures.' Naomi M. McPherson, University of British Columbia, Canada