CHAPTER SUMMARY

Chapter Summary

Chapter 1: Tribal Societies

Considerable debate takes place over how best to characterize tribes. Some of this debate stems from perceived differences between pre-state tribes and contemporary tribes; some of this debate reflects more general controversy over cultural evolution and colonialism. In the popular imagination? tribes reflect a way of life that predates? and is more natural? than that in modern states. Tribes also privilege primordial social ties? are clearly bounded? homogeneous? parochial? and stable. Thus? many believed that tribes organize links between families (including clans and lineages)? and provide them with a social and ideological basis for ...