Melvyn Goldstein
Encyclopedia
Melvyn C. Goldstein is a US-American anthropologist and Tibet
scholar. His research focuses on Tibetan society, history and contemporary politics, population studies, polyandry
, studies in cultural and development ecology, economic change and cross-cultural gerontology.
independent", he also portrays the old state as a feudal theocracy
. Tibetan independence activist Jamyang Norbu
denounced his seminal A History of Modern Tibet, 1913-1951: The Demise of the Lamaist State, which was awarded Honorable Mention for best monograph on China in 1989 by the Association for Asian Studies, for having "little account of honourable service, sacrifice or courage", and for documenting events in Tibetan history Norbu considers "shameful". He married the daughter of the famous Tibetan scholar-official-aristocrat, Surkhang Wangchen Gelek. Goldstein began writing more prolifically once access to Tibet was made available in the late 1979s. He received his B.A. and M.A. in history at University of Michigan (1959, 1960) and a 1968 doctorate in anthropology at the University of Washington
. 1968-1990: Assistant professor (until 1971), and Associate (until 1977) professor, then professor of Anthropology, Department of Anthropology at Case Western Reserve University
in Cleveland, Ohio
, 1975-2002 chairman of the Department of Anthropology, Case Western Reserve University 1987 to present Director of the Center for Research on Tibet, Case Western Reserve University, and since 1991, John Reynolds Harkness Professor of Anthropology, Case Western Reserve University, Co-Director, Center for Research on Tibet, and professor of International Health, School of Medicine (secondary appointment). He was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (Section 51, Anthropology) in 2009.
of China) on a range of topics including nomadic pastoralism, the impact of reforms on rural Tibet, family planning and fertility, modern Tibetan history, and socio-economic change. He has also conducted research in India (with Tibetan refugees in Bylakuppe
), in northwest Nepal
(with a Tibetan border community in Limi
), in western Mongolia
(with a nomadic pastoral community in Khovd Province) and in inland China
(with Han Chinese
on modernization and the elderly).
His current projects include: an oral history of Tibet, Volume Three (1955-57) of his History of Modern Tibet series, and a longitudinal study of the impact of China's reform policies on rural Tibet (nomads and farmers). He has just completed an NSF study investigating modernization and changing patterns of intergenerational relations in rural Tibet began fieldwork in 2005.
Online:
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
scholar. His research focuses on Tibetan society, history and contemporary politics, population studies, polyandry
Polyandry
Polyandry refers to a form of marriage in which a woman has two or more husbands at the same time. The form of polyandry in which a woman is married to two or more brothers is known as "fraternal polyandry", and it is believed by many anthropologists to be the most frequently encountered...
, studies in cultural and development ecology, economic change and cross-cultural gerontology.
Personal background
Goldstein is an American scholar whose research focuses on Tibet. His research has been described as "nuanced"; while he portrays pre-1950 Tibet as "de factoDe facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
independent", he also portrays the old state as a feudal theocracy
Theocracy
Theocracy is a form of organization in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion....
. Tibetan independence activist Jamyang Norbu
Jamyang Norbu
Jamyang Norbu is a Tibetan political activist and writer, currently living in the United States, having previously lived for over 40 years as a Tibetan exile in India.-Biography:...
denounced his seminal A History of Modern Tibet, 1913-1951: The Demise of the Lamaist State, which was awarded Honorable Mention for best monograph on China in 1989 by the Association for Asian Studies, for having "little account of honourable service, sacrifice or courage", and for documenting events in Tibetan history Norbu considers "shameful". He married the daughter of the famous Tibetan scholar-official-aristocrat, Surkhang Wangchen Gelek. Goldstein began writing more prolifically once access to Tibet was made available in the late 1979s. He received his B.A. and M.A. in history at University of Michigan (1959, 1960) and a 1968 doctorate in anthropology at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. 1968-1990: Assistant professor (until 1971), and Associate (until 1977) professor, then professor of Anthropology, Department of Anthropology at Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, 1975-2002 chairman of the Department of Anthropology, Case Western Reserve University 1987 to present Director of the Center for Research on Tibet, Case Western Reserve University, and since 1991, John Reynolds Harkness Professor of Anthropology, Case Western Reserve University, Co-Director, Center for Research on Tibet, and professor of International Health, School of Medicine (secondary appointment). He was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (Section 51, Anthropology) in 2009.
Research
Goldstein has conducted research in different parts of Tibet (mainly in the Tibet Autonomous RegionTibet Autonomous Region
The Tibet Autonomous Region , Tibet or Xizang for short, also called the Xizang Autonomous Region is a province-level autonomous region of the People's Republic of China , created in 1965....
of China) on a range of topics including nomadic pastoralism, the impact of reforms on rural Tibet, family planning and fertility, modern Tibetan history, and socio-economic change. He has also conducted research in India (with Tibetan refugees in Bylakuppe
Bylakuppe
Bylakuppe kannada:ಬೈಲಕುಪ್ಪೆ, Tibetian:བལཀུཔེ is the location of "Lugsum Samdupling" and "Dickyi Larsoe" , two adjacent Tibetan refugee settlements, as well as a number of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. The area is located in the west of the Mysore district in the Indian state of Karnataka...
), in northwest Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
(with a Tibetan border community in Limi
Limi
Limi is a village and municipality in Humla District in the Karnali Zone of north-western Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 988 persons living in 169 individual households.-External links:*...
), in western Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
(with a nomadic pastoral community in Khovd Province) and in inland China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(with Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
on modernization and the elderly).
His current projects include: an oral history of Tibet, Volume Three (1955-57) of his History of Modern Tibet series, and a longitudinal study of the impact of China's reform policies on rural Tibet (nomads and farmers). He has just completed an NSF study investigating modernization and changing patterns of intergenerational relations in rural Tibet began fieldwork in 2005.
Publications (selection)
- Melvyn C. Goldstein, The Snow Lion and the Dragon: China, Tibet and the Dalai Lama. Berkeley: University of California Press. 1997.
- Melvyn C. Goldstein, William Siebenschuh, and Tashi Tsering. The Struggle for Modern Tibet: The Autobiography of Tashi Tsering. Armonk, NY: M.E.Sharpe, Inc. 1997.
- Melvyn C. Goldstein and Matthew Kapstein (eds.), Buddhism in Contemporary Tibet: Religious Revival and Cultural Identity, Berkeley: University of California, 1998.
- Melvyn C. Goldstein, Foreign Affairs, "The Dalai Lama's Dilemma", Volume 77, Number 1, January/February 1998.
- Melvyn C. Goldstein, Chinese Edition of The Struggle for a Modern Tibet: the Life of Tashi Tsering, Mirror Books, Carle Place, NY. 2000.
- Melvyn C. Goldstein, A New Tibetan English Dictionary of Modern Tibetan. University of California Press. Pp. 1200. 2001.
- Melvyn C. Goldstein, Ben Jiao, Cynthia M. Beall & Phuntso Tsering. "Fertility & Family Planning in Rural Tibet." The China Journal. Issue 1, 2002.
- Melvyn C. Goldstein and Cynthia M. Beall. "Changing patterns of Tibetan nomadic pastoralism." In Human Biology of Pastoral Populations, Leonard and Crawford (eds.). Cambridge University Press, 131-150.
- Melvyn C. Goldstein, Dawei Sherap, William Siebenschuh. A Tibetan Revolutionary. The Political Life of Bapa Phüntso Wangye. U. of California Press, 2004
- Melvyn C. Goldstein, A History of Modern Tibet, Volume 2: The Calm Before the Storm: 1951-1955, University of California Press, 2007 ISBN 978-0520249417
- Melvyn C. Goldstein, Ben Jiao, Tanzen Lhundrup. On the Cultural Revolution in Tibet: The Nyemo Incident of 1969, University of California Press, 2009 ISBN 978-0-520-25682-8
Online:
- The Remote World of Tibet's Nomads
- The Impact of China's Reform Policy on the Nomads of Western Tibet
- Change and Continuity in Nomadic Pastoralism on the Western Tibetan Plateau
- Nomads of Golok, a Report
- A Report on Limi Panchayat, Humla District, Karnali Zone
- When Brothers Share a Wife, from Natural History, March, 1987, pp. 39-48 (on Tibetan polyandry)