Anthropology short notes · Paper 2

The concept of ethnicity

7.3 The concept of ethnicity; Ethnic conflicts and political developments; Unrest among tribal communities; Regionalism and demand for autonomy; Pseudo-tribalism. Social change among the tribes during colonial and post-Independent India.

Short notes

The concept of ethnicity

The Concept Of Ethnicity

Definition

Ethnicity is a process/relationship, not just a static category.

Thinkers

  • Scholar: Clifford Geertz (Old Societies and New States, 1963).

Ethnic Conflicts And Political Developments

Definition

Ethnicity is a process/relationship, not just a static category.

Thinkers

  • Scholar: Clifford Geertz (Old Societies and New States, 1963).

Unrest Among Tribal Communities

Definition

A key feature distinguishing tribes from bands is the presence of pan-tribal sodality (associational organisation).

Example / case study

  • Leader may select camp location but lacks coercive power
  • The concept of tribe was elaborated by Elman Service.

Thinkers

  • Scholar: Clifford Geertz (Old Societies and New States, 1963).

Regionalism And Demand For Autonomy

Definition

Consumption is the utilisation of final goods and services by society.

Example / case study

  • Potlatch (North-West Coast)- Kwakiutl by F. Boas

Thinkers

  • Scholar: Clifford Geertz (Old Societies and New States, 1963).

Pseudo-Tribalism. Social Change Among The Tribes During Colonial And Post-Indepe

Definition

A key feature distinguishing tribes from bands is the presence of pan-tribal sodality (associational organisation).

Thinkers

  • Identified by K.S. Singh – “tribalism without tribes”.
  • Scholar: Clifford Geertz (Old Societies and New States, 1963).