About This Journal
Tipití: Journal of the Society for the Anthropology of Lowland South America is the only peer-reviewed, open-access journal serving as a platform dedicated to this region's diverse anthropological research. Internationally recognized as an established and cutting-edge venue for scholarship, Tipití reflects a field that, while far from unified or homogeneous, continuously renews anthropological thinking through vibrant debates and diverse perspectives. While a plurality of theoretical frameworks characterizes contemporary lowland South American anthropology — each rooted in different national traditions — they share a foundational commitment to rigorous ethnography and a conviction that advancing cross-cultural comparative research is the key to contributing to broader anthropological theory. Tipití is deeply committed to providing a space for this diverse intellectual meeting ground.
While some might argue that the scale and speed of globalization have made regional specialisms obsolete, we find this view overstated. Robust anthropological theory must remain rooted in deep regional expertise and rigorous fieldwork. Empirical data and ethnographic specificity are the essential foundations of comparative analysis — a task that remains central to the discipline. We therefore invite submissions of detailed ethnographic articles that engage with core anthropological concepts — such as kinship, power, value, gender, body, and sociality, among others — as well as those exploring the active participation of indigenous peoples and traditional communities in broader processes like colonialism, state formation, global capitalism, and environmental governance. We are particularly interested in research that situates these global encounters within local ontologies, territorialities, and social meanings.
From its inception, lowland South American anthropology has been characterized by a strong drive to synthesize archaeological, historical, and ethnological records. The wealth of theoretical discussion on the region’s social and political evolution or its "carrying capacity," for instance, illustrates this search for holistic and synthetic explanations. In addition to sparking new social theories, South American lowlands have consistently been a crucial testing ground for them. Because exceptional comparative ethnography is inseparable from the integration of social anthropology, ethnobiology, archaeology, and linguistics, we continue to welcome contributions that define anthropology broadly and holistically.
Tipití is also dedicated to fostering critical dialogues between diverse knowledge systems, recognizing them as essential for understanding human lifeworlds and confronting urgent global crises. Therefore, we actively encourage and welcome contributions from Indigenous scholars and authors from traditional communities across lowland South America.
Finally, the journal is open to all those concerned with the human experience as lived in the lowland areas of South America. In addition to peer-reviewed research articles, we actively seek to publish a diverse range of formats, including focused special issues, dossiers, research reports, review essays, commentaries, interviews, and photo essays. For more details on how to publish on Tipití, please see our Publishing Policies.
Indexed in DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals.
