Georges Balandier a kwestia historyczności w badaniach antropologii kulturowej

The article presents a historical perspective that underlined the dynamic anthropology of Georges Balandier, a French sociologist, anthropologist and Africanist. Pointing to the inspirations of work of E.E. Evans-Pritchard and the Manchester School on Balandier, the author stresses the lack of greater cooperation between the British and French anthropology. The Annales School, and in particular the theoretical work of Georges Gurvitch, exerted a significant influence on Balandier's concepts. Connections with the latter influenced Balandier's radical cut-off from the concept of Claude Lévi-Strauss. Balandier's exploratory approach allowed for capturing the historical dynamics guiding social and cultural phenomena. By showing the relationship between tradition and modernity, he questioned ahistorical ethnology. Although he was not a historian, his work became an inspiration for the history of Africa emerging on French soil.