Critical discourse analysis: A social constructionist in practice

This paper focus on the specific qualitative research method called Critical discourse analysis (henceforth CDA). Because there are still so many confusions and stigmation tendencies regarding CDA in the Czech Republic, the author offers a useful introduction to Discourse analysis generally and consequently to CDA particularly. It is exposed Norman Fairclough` s three-dimensional model, e.g. discourse as a text, discourse as a discursive practise and discourse as a social practise and particular phases of his method – Description, Interpretation and Explanation. Further, it is shown one of possibilities how could some analysis carry out. It is concluded by pointing out that CDA is the important part of wider social constructionist paradigm.This paper focus on the specific qualitative research method called Critical discourse analysis (henceforth CDA). Because there are still so many confusions and stigmation tendencies regarding CDA in the Czech Republic, the author offers a useful introduction to Discourse analysis generally and consequently to CDA particularly. It is exposed Norman Fairclough` s three-dimensional model, e.g. discourse as a text, discourse as a discursive practise and discourse as a social practise and particular phases of his method – Description, Interpretation and Explanation. Further, it is shown one of possibilities how could some analysis carry out. It is concluded by pointing out that CDA is the important part of wider social constructionist paradigm

Principles of archival research

The article is an introduction to the topic of the archival science which is concentrated on practical use of archive. First part contains definitions of basic terms of archive and archival documents and informs about the system of archives in Czech Republic. Next part concentrates on inner organization of archives, records of archival documents and archive tools for researchers. The text finishes with a practical manual how to do research in archives and a commented list of basic literature.The article is an introduction to the topic of the archival science which is concentrated on practical use of archive. First part contains definitions of basic terms of archive and archival documents and informs about the system of archives in Czech Republic. Next part concentrates on inner organization of archives, records of archival documents and archive tools for researchers. The text finishes with a practical manual how to do research in archives and a commented list of basic literature

Brief introduction to the policy analysis in the social anthropology perspective

The aim of this text is to briefly introduce practically oriented discipline called policy analysis, and to do so in the perspective of (applied) social anthropology.After the introductory definition of terms, which are crucial within the area of public policy, such as policy, policy studies, policy evaluation and policy analysis, I continue with the definition of the very policy analysis of which the explanation of its types and gradual steps towards reaching it are the necessary parts. Another part of the study summarizes the interrelation, interconnection and the enrichment of both disciplines – the policy analysis and the social and cultural anthropology. Several roles in which an anthropologist can assert himself/herself are presented in conclusion.The aim of this text is to briefly introduce practically oriented discipline called policy analysis, and to do so in the perspective of (applied) social anthropology.After the introductory definition of terms, which are crucial within the area of public policy, such as policy, policy studies, policy evaluation and policy analysis, I continue with the definition of the very policy analysis of which the explanation of its types and gradual steps towards reaching it are the necessary parts. Another part of the study summarizes the interrelation, interconnection and the enrichment of both disciplines – the policy analysis and the social and cultural anthropology. Several roles in which an anthropologist can assert himself/herself are presented in conclusion

Germans: A history and birth of race theory

The main aim of this paper was to catch the most important events of one thousand years lasting time period of German history and to provide a  summary of German evolution since the end of the wandering of nations for a purpose of understanding the circumstances under which the German racist ideology was established. On the bases of the selected sources could be assumed that the expansion of polygenetism, next the progressive secularization of Western thought and the progress of natural sciences played the significant role. It was a Darwin’s theory as well that contributed significantly to enforcement of racist concept based on biological features. The German racist ideology originated on the bases of those sources: so called ideology of “two races” that was retrieved during the French revolution; fascination by India and Indo-European concept (that connected together Aryans and Germans in eighteen century); German nationalism and Romanism and the ideology about superiority of Germans. Also the work of Arthur Gobineau played the important role for transformation of the philological-historical concept of Aryan race into the ideology of Aryans as the members of biological superior race.The main aim of this paper was to catch the most important events of one thousand years lasting time period of German history and to provide a  summary of German evolution since the end of the wandering of nations for a purpose of understanding the circumstances under which the German racist ideology was established. On the bases of the selected sources could be assumed that the expansion of polygenetism, next the progressive secularization of Western thought and the progress of natural sciences played the significant role. It was a Darwin’s theory as well that contributed significantly to enforcement of racist concept based on biological features. The German racist ideology originated on the bases of those sources: so called ideology of “two races” that was retrieved during the French revolution; fascination by India and Indo-European concept (that connected together Aryans and Germans in eighteen century); German nationalism and Romanism and the ideology about superiority of Germans. Also the work of Arthur Gobineau played the important role for transformation of the philological-historical concept of Aryan race into the ideology of Aryans as the members of biological superior race

Postmodern and critical anthropology

This article focuses on the emergence of postmodern and critical anthropology in the late twentieth century approaches which strongly affected main epistemological assumptions. Here attention is paid to dismissal of ahistoric structuralism, essentialism and universalist positivism and to the move towards much more historical awareness concerned with conditions of production of anthropological knowledge. Critical re-readings of anthropological body of knowledge done by postmodern and critical anthropologists (e. g. Clifford, Rabinow, Marcus) reflect political, discursive and rhetorical aspects of anthropological representations. The main insights of French poststructuralist (Foucault, Derrida, Bourdieu) were adopted and led to discoursive and dialogical paradigm inside this movement. Advancement of critical reflections has resulted into many contemporary approaches in the field of social constructivism, politics of identity, globalisation and transnationalism.This article focuses on the emergence of postmodern and critical anthropology in the late twentieth century approaches which strongly affected main epistemological assumptions. Here attention is paid to dismissal of ahistoric structuralism, essentialism and universalist positivism and to the move towards much more historical awareness concerned with conditions of production of anthropological knowledge. Critical re-readings of anthropological body of knowledge done by postmodern and critical anthropologists (e. g. Clifford, Rabinow, Marcus) reflect political, discursive and rhetorical aspects of anthropological representations. The main insights of French poststructuralist (Foucault, Derrida, Bourdieu) were adopted and led to discoursive and dialogical paradigm inside this movement. Advancement of critical reflections has resulted into many contemporary approaches in the field of social constructivism, politics of identity, globalisation and transnationalism