Tribalism
Tribalism ( tribalism , English tribalism ) describes a view of the (entire) society as a set of smaller communities , the tribes . The traditional definition says that tribes define themselves through an ethnically homogeneous population, a uniform culture , a jointly inhabited land, but above all through a clear demarcation of their identity from other tribes ( ethnogenesis ). For these reasons, tribes are often seen as a hindrance to the formation of nation states.
The terms tribalism and tribe are burdened by the colonial era as a characterization of “primitive” societies and are no longer used in ethnology today. However, this classic definition is at least dubious on some points.
The worldview behind it and the social structure of the tribal societies are decisive for tribalism. According to Vine Deloria , tribalism is a kind of emotional state of "not being left alone" in which the individual feels safe and secure. According to Ferdinand Tönnies , a group in the sense of a community is distinguished from society by familiarity, shared interests and goals, values and rituals. Tribalism should therefore be seen as a form of community life.
Development and organization
Tribalism is a very flexible form of organization that is characterized by dynamic processes and adaptability. In this way, it helps people to survive what they cannot do as an individual. Tribal societies are egalitarian societies in which the members take on temporary tasks. The basis of tribal societies are different groups, the members of which are closely connected to one another (for the Lakota the tiospaye, which means something like "who live together"). Several of these "extended families" form a loosely organized community, which is referred to in English as a band . These gangs in turn form the tribe or people together. These communities are not only connected by blood ties, but also adopt new members.
Tribalism largely dispenses with government structures and higher-level organizations. Tribalism should rather be viewed as a complex network between the various groups and their individuals, in which all tasks are assigned to those who are generally considered to be most suitable. There are therefore no layers, classes or professions. Common values and common property are characteristic of tribalism. All goods necessary for the existence of the people (traditionally land, water, game etc.) are common property, everything else is private property. Karl Marx called this primeval communism.
But a tribe member is not automatically the perfect person. In order to create a balance to the egoism that is also present here , there is a complex set of rules of moral concepts and rules that make living together possible. Disputes are settled at the lowest level; meetings are only called in larger conflicts. The individual is very free in his decisions, unless his actions harm the community. The prevailing altruism should be seen as a kind of general social security, so that you can rely on others in bad times. The customs of giving and hospitality are not entirely unselfish either. Likewise, social standing is often linked to performance for the community.
If decisions have to be made that affect the community, this is done on the basis of a consensus to be found. Majority decisions that disadvantage part of the group are avoided as far as possible because of the possibility of the group being split up. On the other hand, there are cases known, for example from the history of the Indian Wars, in which old groups dissolved and new ones formed. This dynamic property makes it very problematic to classify a social structure as tribalistic (or not).
Tribalism today
Tribalism and ethnocentrism are original links in society, i.e. characteristics of belonging to a group, whereby tribalism, in contrast to ethnocentrism, is open, i.e. has an integrative effect. The fundamentally tribalistic tendency of humans can be found in modern societies in the form of clubs, fans, associations ... and also societies and commercial ventures.
With the exception of Europe, tribal societies still exist in all continents. For example, in the United States, Indian tribes are recognized as independent nations that are only subject to federal law.
The concept of "neotribalism" is popular among supporters of the Goatrance movement and can also be transferred to other modern subcultures .
Africa
In African states, tribalism is the term used to describe social and political behavior that is only related to the interests of a tribe and not to the entire state. It particularly complicates impartial judiciary and administration.
The borders drawn by the European colonial powers without regard to ethnic units and the differently “modernized” attitudes within the individual peoples and tribes are the main causes of tribalism, which makes the formation of unified state nations difficult.
Tribalism is not to be confused with the persistence of traditions, rather it is a possible answer to postcolonial improvised states without any experience of the citizens with functioning neutral state organs. In non-African states with no tribal background, similar patterns appear under different names (e.g. communalism in India ).
New tribalism
Anthropologists like Richard Schütze or Marshall Sahlins have published studies that describe tribal life as a simple and safe life.
The philosophers John Zerzan and especially Daniel Quinn led to the "new tribalism" and the "new tribalist revolution". The new tribalists use the word tribalism in the sense of tribal life: an open, egalitarian and cooperative community that differs from the communist utopia primarily through the significantly smaller size of the communities. New tribalists regard their “utopia” as the natural state of human life that has been tried and tested for decades. New tribalists also shy away from the word utopia: For them tribalism is not the ideal way of life, but the best attainable.
In Germany the new tribalism is also known as communitarianism . See also the relatively new community research .
Political tribalism
In the Anglo-Saxon-speaking world, current political or general social differences and divisions are described as tribalism, by authors such as Andrew Sullivan and Ezra Klein . The "tribes" e.g. B. the " east coast elite " and the " rustbelt proletariat" demarcate each other as milieu and camp and fail to reach (national) compromises.
See also
literature
- Mamadou Adama Sow: Ethnocentrism as a catalyst for existing conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa, using the example of the unrest in Côte d'Ivoire (PDF, 57 pages, 523 KB) on: European University Center for Peace Studies (EPU), Stadtschleining 2005.
Web links
- Joint research at the University of Münster