Peasant society and the image of limited good

Abstract

George M. Foster (1913-2006) was an American anthrologist best known for his research on traditional peasant societies. He was also one of the founders of medical anthropology. “Peasant society and the image of limited good” by George M. Foster was published in American Anthroplogist in 1965 (American Anthropologist. New Series, Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 293-315). It dwells upon the “limited good” concept that came to be extremely influential in anthropology and folklore studies. According to this theory, all good in a community is perceived as limited, therefore, anyone more prosperous than their counterparts is believed to have robbed the latter of their set share of good - which directly impacts social relationships in the community.