Global Issues & Biocultural Diversity

Global Issues & Biocultural Diversity

Topics for DiscussionTopics 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

AcculturationAcculturation

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

Sinicization Hinduization

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

WesternizationWesternization

• 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

SinicizationSinicization1) Assimilation of non-Han Chinese; 2) acculturation by neighboring countries of Chinese culture

1950 begins physical invasion of Tibet by ChinaCreation of a Chinese political state called Tibet Autonomous RegionDestroyed Buddhist & Bon temples

1) Assimilation of non-Han Chinese; 2) acculturation by neighboring countries of Chinese culture

1950 begins physical invasion of Tibet by ChinaCreation of a Chinese political state called Tibet Autonomous RegionDestroyed Buddhist & Bon temples

Potala Palace; former residenceOf the Dalai Lama who is now in Exile in India

Anniversaries of Tibetan Uprising against ChinaAnniversaries 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

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

Hinduization (& Sanskritization)Hinduization (& Sanskritization)

Austroasiatic peoples in India fought political encapsulation

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

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

Contact and Domination in Europe

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

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

Latvia MapLatvia 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)

• Spread or advance of one culture at expense of others

Cultural ImperialismCultural 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

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

Globalization: People in MotionGlobalization: People in MotionGlobalization promotes intercultural

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

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

Tourists atIndira Gandhiairport

People in MotionPeople in Motion

Scale of human movement expanded dramatically

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

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 ConditionThe 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

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 CulturesSpread 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...

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.

Indigenous People called...Indigenous People called...

Indígena (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 BahadurPhoto: J. Fortier, 1997

Identity in Indigenous PoliticsIdentity 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

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 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

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 CenterSource: MalibuSurfsideNews

Small-Scale Societies:Small-Scale Societies:

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

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

Pastoralists in Pakistan

Carrying Capacity: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: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?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 BiodiversityConserving 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

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

Conserving BiodiversityConserving Biodiversity

Investigation: Learn how Natural & Cultural Systems Function

Investigation: Learn how Natural & Cultural Systems Function

Wild pig hunting in Maui

Ranked Prey of Rajis of IndiaRanked Prey of Rajis of India

1. Porcupine2. Bats3. Sambar (Cervis Unicolor)

1. Porcupine2. Bats3. Sambar (Cervis Unicolor)

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Succeed or FailCollapse: How Societies

Choose to Succeed or FailJared Diamond

Rapa Nui Polynesian Farmers ColonizedEaster island ~1000 years ago

Information sharing b/n Governments & Indigenous Groups

Information sharing b/n Governments & Indigenous Groups

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

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

Campo Reservation, San Diego County

The Continuance of DiversityThe Continuance of Diversity

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

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

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

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

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

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