The concept of kinship has been a fundamental point for the formation of the science of anthropology since the 19th century. Throughout the 20th century, debates regarding the nature and function of kinship have reflected the tremors, theoretical rearrangements, and upheavals within this field of science. Today, theoretical discussions about kinship are the subject of renewed interest, as they can provide answers to one of the main demands of our time, which is the understanding of the "Other," however it may be defined.

This book attempts a journey through the history of anthropological theory of kinship, providing a comprehensive presentation of the theoretical currents that have highlighted kinship as a dominant analytical concept and a research field of crucial importance for the development of scientific models that have shaped the course of anthropological science. The analysis of theoretical frameworks, structural principles, and methodological tools that anthropologists have developed in order to understand the structure and function of kinship systems emphasizes the divergences, conflicts, and interconnections among theoretical traditions, thus demonstrating the different scientific orientations of dominant theoretical currents, which simultaneously represent different national schools.