Global Issues & Biocultural Diversity

Topics for Discussion Acculturation Cultural Imperialism Postmodernity Indigeneity & Identity Biocultural Diversity in the Modern World

Acculturation

Cultural Imperialism

Postmodernity

Indigeneity & Identity

Biocultural Diversity in the Modern World

Acculturation Westernization – the influence of Western expansion on indigenous peoples and their cultures Sinicization Hinduization Acculturation – changes that result when groups come into continuous firsthand contact with another group that changes the cultural patterns of either or both groups

Westernization – the influence of Western expansion on indigenous peoples and their cultures

Sinicization

Hinduization

Acculturation – changes that result when groups come into continuous firsthand contact with another group that changes the cultural patterns of either or both groups

Westernization A process whereby non-western societies come under the influence of Western (Occidental, European, American) cultures Areas of influence: alphabet, diet, economics, industry, language, law, lifestyle, politics, religion, sartorial choices, technology, values

A process whereby non-western societies come under the influence of Western (Occidental, European, American) cultures

Areas of influence: alphabet, diet, economics, industry, language, law, lifestyle, politics, religion, sartorial choices, technology, values

Sinicization 1) Assimilation of non-Han Chinese; 2) acculturation by neighboring countries of Chinese culture 1950 begins physical invasion of Tibet by China Creation of a Chinese political state called Tibet Autonomous Region Destroyed Buddhist & Bon temples Potala Palace; former residence Of the Dalai Lama who is now in Exile in India

1) Assimilation of non-Han Chinese;

2) acculturation by neighboring countries of Chinese culture

1950 begins physical invasion of Tibet by China

Creation of a Chinese political state called Tibet Autonomous Region

Destroyed Buddhist & Bon temples

Anniversaries of Tibetan Uprising against China March 2008: Cars were overturned cars and shops burning in Barkhor Square in front of the Jokhand Temple in central Lhasa, Tibet. March 2009: 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule 2008 The New York Times

March 2008: Cars were overturned cars and shops burning in Barkhor Square in front of the Jokhand Temple in central Lhasa, Tibet.

March 2009: 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule

Hinduization (& Sanskritization) Austroasiatic peoples in India fought political encapsulation ~8% of South Asians are forced to adopt Hindu moral & legal codes Santal Adivasi (Indigenous); Photo: lh3.google.com

Austroasiatic peoples in India fought political encapsulation

~8% of South Asians are forced to adopt Hindu moral & legal codes

Contact and Domination in Europe Ethnocide - the destruction of a culture of a people, as opposed to the people themselves (genocide) 200 Livonians remain; only 20 speak the language Surrounded by millions of Latvians Livonians in the Repulic of Latvia

Ethnocide - the destruction of a culture of a people, as opposed to the people themselves (genocide)

200 Livonians remain; only 20 speak the language

Surrounded by millions of Latvians

Latvia Map 1.4 million Latvians 200 Livonians 9,000 Jews 8,000 Romani (Gypsies)

1.4 million Latvians

200 Livonians

9,000 Jews

8,000 Romani (Gypsies)

Cultural Imperialism Technologically complex societies dominate technologically simple societies Some see modern technology as erasing cultural differences Others see modern technology providing opportunity for social groups (local cultures) to express themselves Spread or advance of one culture at expense of others

Technologically complex societies dominate technologically simple societies

Some see modern technology as erasing cultural differences

Others see modern technology providing opportunity for social groups (local cultures) to express themselves

Spread or advance of one culture at expense of others

Social & Economic Organization

Globalization: People in Motion Globalization promotes intercultural communication, including travel and migration, which bring people from different societies into direct contact Tourists at Indira Gandhi airport

Globalization promotes intercultural communication, including travel and migration, which bring people from different societies into direct contact

People in Motion Scale of human movement expanded dramatically Diaspora : offspring of an area who have spread to many lands Linkages in modern world system enlarged and erased old boundaries and distinctions

Scale of human movement expanded dramatically

Diaspora : offspring of an area who have spread to many lands

Linkages in modern world system enlarged and erased old boundaries and distinctions

The Postmodern Condition Postmodernity - A social condition reflecting greater population movements, multiple identities of people, and the rejection of earlier modernist ideas of progress Postmodern - A Cultural period after Ancient, Medieval, Modern historical eras; period marked by breakdown of established categories & boundaries Postmodernism - An aesthetic style reflecting interweaving of Western with non-Western ideas; overlapping styles

Postmodernity - A social condition reflecting greater population movements, multiple identities of people, and the rejection of earlier modernist ideas of progress

Postmodern - A Cultural period after Ancient, Medieval, Modern historical eras; period marked by breakdown of established categories & boundaries

Postmodernism - An aesthetic style reflecting interweaving of Western with non-Western ideas; overlapping styles

Postmodernity at Multicultural Conferences Children from Antigua, Argentina, Bonaire, Curacao, Ecuador, Jamaica, Paraguay and Venezuela attending a conference in Dominican Republic; www.jci.cc

Spread Cultures vs. Residual Cultures Spread cultures: Agrarian societies that need more resources Residual cultures: Societies that require few natural resources remained within given territories

Spread cultures: Agrarian societies that need more resources

Residual cultures: Societies that require few natural resources remained within given territories

Indigenous People: People residing in a region... Before colonization During the earliest formation of a nation-state Linguistically, culturally, socially isolated from the dominant nation-state Peoples who identify as indigenous and are recognised as such by other groups.

Before colonization

During the earliest formation of a nation-state

Linguistically, culturally, socially isolated from the dominant nation-state

Peoples who identify as indigenous and are recognised as such by other groups.

Indigenous People called... Ind í gena (not indio) in S. America Adivasi in S. Asia Aborigine in Australia First Nations Peoples in Canada Autochthon in Eurasia Native American in United State Raute elder Man Bahadur Photo: J. Fortier, 1997

Ind í gena (not indio) in S. America

Adivasi in S. Asia

Aborigine in Australia

First Nations Peoples in Canada

Autochthon in Eurasia

Native American in United State

Identity in Indigenous Politics Identity is fluid and multiple Identities seen as Potentially plural Emerging through a specific process Ways of being someone in particular times and places Essentialism : process of viewing an identity as established, real, and frozen

Identity is fluid and multiple

Identities seen as

Potentially plural

Emerging through a specific process

Ways of being someone in particular times and places

Essentialism : process of viewing an identity as established, real, and frozen

Identity in Indigenous Politics Identity is fluid, dynamic process Multiple ways of being indigenous Identities seen as Potentially plural Emerging through a specific process Ways of being someone in particular times and places Dancer at Chumash Cultural Center Source: MalibuSurfsideNews

Identity is fluid, dynamic process

Multiple ways of being indigenous

Identities seen as

Potentially plural

Emerging through a specific process

Ways of being someone in particular times and places

Dancer at Chumash Cultural Center

Source: MalibuSurfsideNews

Small-Scale Societies: Do small-scale societies live within their natural resource “carrying capacities”? Pastoralists in Pakistan

Do small-scale societies live within their natural resource “carrying capacities”?

Carrying Capacity: The maximum number of individuals of a given species that a site can support during the most unfavorable time of year, without causing deterioration of the site. For example, the maximum number of deer that can be supported on a site without depleting browse.

The maximum number of individuals of a given species that a site can support during the most unfavorable time of year, without causing deterioration of the site. For example, the maximum number of deer that can be supported on a site without depleting browse.

Agrarian Societies: Have any agrarian societies lived within their environmental carrying capacities?

Have any agrarian societies lived within their environmental carrying capacities?

What’s my Ecological Footprint? a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems It takes ~4 Earths to support me It takes ~20 global acres to support me footprintcalculator .org

a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems

It takes ~4 Earths to support me

It takes ~20 global acres to support me

footprintcalculator .org

Conserving Biodiversity View from World Conservation Union: A major challenge to conserving biodiversity involves understanding socioeconomic and political areas of humanity A need to make policy-makers understand the realities of conservation Jeffery McNeely

View from World Conservation Union:

A major challenge to conserving biodiversity involves understanding socioeconomic and political areas of humanity

A need to make policy-makers understand the realities of conservation

Conserving Biodiversity Investigation: Learn how Natural & Cultural Systems Function Wild pig hunting in Maui

Investigation: Learn how Natural & Cultural Systems Function

Ranked Prey of Rajis of India Porcupine Bats Sambar (Cervis Unicolor)

Porcupine

Bats

Sambar (Cervis Unicolor)

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Succeed or Fail Jared Diamond Rapa Nui Polynesian Farmers Colonized Easter island ~1000 years ago

Information sharing b/n Governments & Indigenous Groups Kumeyaay water management: “Rock drop” dam formations create backflow & ponds Campo Reservation, San Diego County

Kumeyaay water management: “Rock drop” dam formations create backflow & ponds

The Continuance of Diversity Anthropology has crucial role to play in promoting more humanistic vision of social change One that respects value of cultural diversity Existence of anthropology contributes to continuing need to understand social and cultural similarities and differences

Anthropology has crucial role to play in promoting more humanistic vision of social change

One that respects value of cultural diversity

Existence of anthropology contributes to continuing need to understand social and cultural similarities and differences

Incentives: Helping Conserve Biodiversity Linkages must be made between business & conservation interest groups WATHEROO MINERALS company creates Eucalyptus reserve in exchange for mining rights

Linkages must be made between business & conservation interest groups

WATHEROO MINERALS company creates Eucalyptus reserve in exchange for mining rights

Integration: Promote Conservation Biodiversity across sectors Conservation across sectors promotes more interest Tourism, native people’s political groups, water resource management, marine fisheries, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Conservation across sectors promotes more interest

Tourism, native people’s political groups, water resource management, marine fisheries, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

International Cooperation: Building Collaborations Convention on Biological Diversity Nations have sovereign rights over their resources and are responsible for sustainable use of them. Local communities are an intrinsic part of the landscape of natural resources

Convention on Biological Diversity

Nations have sovereign rights over their resources and are responsible for sustainable use of them.

Local communities are an intrinsic part of the landscape of natural resources

Biocultural Diversity: Biological and Cultural Diversity Indigenous peoples need to be included and active in conservation activities

Indigenous peoples need to be included and active in conservation activities