Tribalism

Tribalism ( tribalism, tribalism English ) refers to a view of the ( whole ) society as a number of smaller communities, tribes. The traditional definition includes, but that define strains by an ethnically homogeneous population, a common culture, a common inhabited land, mainly through clear delineation of their identity to other tribes. For these reasons, tribes in the formation of nation-states are often considered a hindrance.

The terms tribalism and stem are biased by the colonial period as a characterization of "primitive " societies and are now no longer used in anthropology.

However, this classical definition is at least doubtful in some respects.

Crucial to the tribalism is the underlying worldview and the social structure of tribal societies. According to Vine Deloria tribalism is a kind of emotional state of " not left alone his ," in which the individual feels safe and canceled. After Ferdinand Tönnies a group in the sense of a community is distinguished as opposed to society through familiarity, common interests and goals, values ​​and rituals. Tribalism is therefore to be regarded as a form of life in communities.

Development and organization

Tribalism is a very flexible form of organization which is characterized by dynamic processes and adaptability. This helps the people to survive what he can not alone as an individual. Tribal societies are egalitarian societies in which the members take time-limited tasks. The basis of tribal societies are groups whose members are mutually closely connected ( among the Lakota, the tiospaye, which translates as " living together " means ). Several of these " extended families " form a loosely organized community, which are referred to in English as tape. These bands in turn together form the stem or the people. These communities are connected not only through blood ties but also adopt new members.

Tribalism does without power structures, and parent organizations. Tribalism is to be regarded rather as a complex network between the various groups and their individuals, in which all tasks are assigned to each of which, for the most appropriate according to the general view. There is therefore no layers, classes or professions. Characteristic of tribalism are common values ​​and common ownership. All necessary for the existence of the people goods (traditional land, water, wildlife, etc.) are common property, everything else is private property. Karl Marx called this primitive communism.

Now a member of the tribe, however, is not automatically the perfect man who envisioned Marx might. In order to provide a balance to existing well selfishness here, there is a complex set of rules of moral values ​​and rules that make coexistence possible. Disputes are settled at the lowest level, only in larger conflicts meetings are called. The individual is very free in his decisions, unless it harms his actions with the community. The absolutely predominant altruism is to be seen as a kind of universal social security to rely on in bad times to the other can. The customs of gift-giving and hospitality are thus not entirely altruistic. Likewise, the social prestige is often linked to services for the community.

Must decisions are made that affect the community, this is done based on a to-find consensus. Majority decisions that discriminate against a part of the group will be avoided because of the possibility of splitting the group. On the other hand, cases are known for example from the history of the Indian wars, in which dissolved old and new groups formed. This dynamic property makes it very difficult to classify a social structure as a tribalist (or not ).

Tribalism today

Tribalism and ethnocentrism are also original bind members of society, so membership features to a group, using tribalism as opposed to ethnocentrism is open, thus acts integrative. The principle tribalist tendency of man is to be found in modern societies in the form of clubs, fans, clubs ... and also companies and commercial ventures.

Although tribalism and tribalistic inclinations of man are almost hushed today, they still exist and are often used. Belonging to a supposed group of " users of a product " is propagated by marketing, modern management attempts like to create a tribal feeling of "we " in order to secure the loyalty of the employees. There are occasional real tribalist approaches but in a neoliberal society, is generally an attempt at manipulation: An attempt is made by the use of tribal principles, to take advantage of the loyalty of the people " their tribe " - of course without taking the actually related obligations: namely that of the strain with respect to its member.

Except in Europe exist in all continents still tribal societies. Thus, Indian tribes are recognized as independent nations, for example, in the U.S., which are subject only to federal law.

The concept of " Neotribalismus " is popular among followers of the Goatrancebewegung and can be transferred to other modern subcultures.

Africa

As tribalism is referred to in the African States social and political behaviors that are related only to the interests of a tribe and not to the entire state. He made ​​difficult especially an impartial judiciary and administration.

The conclusions drawn by the European colonial powers without regard to ethnic boundaries and the units in varying degrees " modernized " attitude within the individual nations and tribes are the main causes of tribalism, the more difficult the formation of a single state nations.

Tribalism is not to be confused with persistence at traditions, he is rather a possible answer to post-colonial improvised States without an experience of citizens with functioning neutral state organs. In non-African states without tribal background similar patterns appear under a different name (eg communalism in India).

New tribalism

After putting in the last 50 years, the fog gradually exposed to the tribalism and anthropologists such as Marshall Sahlins and Richard Lee published studies that describe the tribal life as a simple and safe life, the theory of Thomas Hobbes is refuted. The idea of the tribe as a chronic lack Company may be safely shelved.

The philosopher John Zerzan and especially Daniel Quinn led to the " new tribalism " and the "new tribalistic revolution." The new tribalists use the word tribalism within the meaning of tribal life: An open, egalitarian and cooperative community that is different from the communist utopia primarily by their significantly smaller size of the communities. New tribalists consider their "Utopia " as the natural state of man, which has been proven for years tens of thousands. Also balk New tribalists before the word Utopia: Tribalism is not the ideal way of life, but the best achievable.

In Germany the new tribalism is also called communitarianism. See also the relatively new Community research.