Peter Maurice Worsley (6 May 1924 – 15 March 2013) was a noted United Kingdom sociologist and social anthropologist. He was a major figure in both anthropology and sociology, and is noted for introducing the term Third World into English. He not only made theoretical and ethnographic contributions, but also was regarded as a key founding member of the New Left.[ Peel, JDY (2013) Peter Worsley obituary: Sociologist who did much to define the idea of a 'third world', The Guardian, Thursday 28 March (Accessed April 2013)][ Peter Worsley: A Life, interviewed by Alan Macfarlane (Accessed April 2013)]
Early life and education
Born in
Birkenhead, Worsley started reading English at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, but his studies were interrupted by World War II. He served in the
British Army as an officer in Africa and India. During this time, he developed his interest in
anthropology. After the war, he worked on
mass education in Tanganyika and then went to study under
Max Gluckman at the University of Manchester. He received his PhD from the Australian National University in
Canberra.
Career
He lectured in sociology at the University of Hull and then went on to become the first Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester in 1964.
Awards
Winner of the Curl Bequest Prize (1955) of the Royal Anthropological Institute for
The kinship system of the Tallensi: a revaluation (Published in JRAI 1956, pp. 37–75).
Key works
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Subsequent publications by Weidenfeld & Nicolson (London), 1984 & 1988. .
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Subsequent publications 1998 & 1999. Alternative .
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Subsequent publications Routledge 1989, 1990 ; 2002 .
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David Simon (ed) (2006) Fifty Key Thinkers in Development, Routledge
Citations
External links
