ZeePedia

ASSOCIATIONS, CULTURES AND SOCIETIES (continued):Formation of Associations

<< ASSOCIATIONS, CULTURES AND SOCIETIES:Variation in Associations, Age Sets
RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE:Similarity in Human Adaptations >>
img
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology ­ SOC401
VU
Lesson 33
ASSOCIATIONS, CULTURES AND SOCIETIES (continued)
Regional and Ethnic Associations
Regional and ethnic organizations are voluntary associations whose members possess variably ascribed
characteristics.
Both forms of associations are usually found in societies where technological advance is accelerating,
bringing with it numerous forms of economic and social complexities as well.
Regional and Ethnic Associations
Despite a variety of types, regional and ethnic associations commonly emphasize helping members adapt to
new conditions, particularly if they are migrants.
Many rural migrants keep members in touch with home area traditions by the help of regional associations.
These associations promote improved living conditions for members who have recently migrated to urban
areas in several countries where urbanization is taking place at a fast pace.
Examples of Regional Associations
Regional associations (serranos) help rural migrants adapt to urban life and Lima, Peru. The serranos have
been seen to actively lobby the government on community issues, assist members with enculturation,
organize fiestas, and act as clearing house for flow of information.
Chinatowns in major cities of the world have associations performing a similar function for Chinese
immigrants.
Ethnic Associations
Ethnic Associations are based on ethic ties. Such associations are particularly prominent in urban centers of
West Africa. Even tribal unions are commonly found in Ghana and Nigeria which superimpose the notion
of ethnicity with that of tribal ties.
Rotating Credit Associations
Such associations are based on the principle of mutual aid. Each group member contributes regularly to a
fund, which is handed over to one member on a rotation basis.
Such associations are common in East, South and southeastern Asia, in western Africa and the West Indies.
Default is rare in rotating credit associations due to social pressure and the incentive is reasonable since
membership ranges from 10 to 30 contributors. Since no collateral is needed, trustworthiness is considered
essential when letting people become members of such groups.
Multi-ethnic Associations
Associations with a common purpose of economic or socio-political empowerment are often multi-ethnic.
Savings and loan associations in New Guinea often link women from different tribal areas.
Formation of Associations
Age sets arise in societies which have frequent warfare breaking out amidst them, or it is found amongst
groups with varying populations, due to which kinship systems are not sufficient for alliance purposes.
72
img
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology ­ SOC401
VU
Urbanization and economic compulsions (lack of access to credit) also form associations due to the need to
cooperate out of self interest.
Useful Terms
Collateral ­ the act of pledging an asset in order to qualify from a loan from a lending institution like a
bank
Empowerment ­to empower or reinforce the capacity of individuals
Multi-ethnic ­ different ethnic groups coexisting within the same society
Default ­ being unable to pay back a loan.
Suggested Readings
Students are advised to read the following chapters to develop a better understanding of the various
principals highlighted in this hand-out:
Chapter 22 in `Anthropology' by Ember
Internet Resources
Please visit the following web-site for this lecture, which provide useful and interesting information:
http://www.fathom.com/feature/122550/
73
Table of Contents:
  1. WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?:Cultural Anthropology, Internet Resources
  2. THE CONCEPT OF CULTURE AND THE APPLICATION OF CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
  3. MAJOR THEORIES IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Diffusionism
  4. GROWTH OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY (continued):Post Modernism
  5. METHODS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Comments on Fieldwork
  6. METHODS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (continued):Census Taking
  7. COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND CONSUMPTION IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD
  8. ECONOMIC ANTHROPOLOGY (continued):THE DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS AND SERVICES
  9. FOCUSING ON LANGUAGE:Languages of the World, Structure of Language
  10. FOCUS ON LANGUAGE (continued):Levels of Complexity, Cultural Emphasis
  11. OBTAINING FOOD IN DIFFERENT CULTURES:Optimal Foraging, Suggested Readings
  12. FOOD AND CULTURE (continued):Food Collectors, Food Production
  13. OBTAINING FOOD IN DIFFERENT CULTURE (continued):Pastoralism, Agriculture
  14. RELEVANCE OF KINSHIP AND DESCENT:Kinship Criteria, Rules of Descent
  15. KINSHIP AND DESCENT (continued):Tracing Descent, Primary Kinship Systems
  16. THE ROLE OF FAMILY AND MARRIAGE IN CULTURE:Economic Aspect of Marriage
  17. ROLE OF FAMILY AND MARRIAGE IN CULTURE (continued):Family Structures
  18. GENDER AND CULTURE:Gender Stratification, Suggested Readings
  19. GENDER ROLES IN CULTURE (continued):Women Employment, Feminization of Poverty
  20. STRATIFICATION AND CULTURE:Social Ranking, Dimensions of Inequality
  21. THEORIES OF STRATIFICATION (continued):The Functionalists, Conflict Theorists
  22. CULTURE AND CHANGE:Inventions, Diffusion, Donor, Conventional
  23. CULTURE AND CHANGE (continued):Cultural Interrelations, Reaction to Change
  24. CULTURE AND CHANGE (continued):Planned Change, Globalization
  25. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION:Bands, Tribal Organizations, Chiefdoms
  26. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION (continued):State Systems, Nation-States
  27. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION (continued):Social Norms, Informal Mechanisms
  28. PSYCHOLOGY AND CULTURE:Emotional Development, Psychological Universals
  29. PSYCHOLOGY AND CULTURE (continued):Origin of Customs, Personality Types
  30. IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE:Ideology in Everyday Life, Hegemony
  31. IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE (Continued):Political ideologies, Economic Ideology
  32. ASSOCIATIONS, CULTURES AND SOCIETIES:Variation in Associations, Age Sets
  33. ASSOCIATIONS, CULTURES AND SOCIETIES (continued):Formation of Associations
  34. RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE:Similarity in Human Adaptations
  35. RACE, ETHNICITY AND CULTURE (continued):Inter-group Relations
  36. CULTURE AND BELIEFS:Social Function of Religion, Politics and Beliefs
  37. LOCAL OR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE:Changing Definitions of Local Knowledge
  38. LOCAL OR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE (continued):The Need for Caution
  39. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT:Influence of Development Notions
  40. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (Continued):Contentions in Development
  41. ANTHROPOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (Continued):Operational
  42. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND ART:Relevance of Art, Art and Politics
  43. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND ART (continued):Art as a Status Symbol
  44. ETHICS IN ANTHROPOLOGY:Ethical Condemnation, Orientalism
  45. RELEVANCE OF CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Ensuring Cultural Survival