global challenges, local responses, and the role of anthropology part i

Global Challenges,Global Challenges,Local Responses, andLocal Responses, and

the Role of Anthropologythe Role of Anthropology

Part IPart I

The Role of Anthropology:The Role of Anthropology:

Many anthropologists have a special Many anthropologists have a special concern with the future and the concern with the future and the changes it may bring. changes it may bring. – When traditional peoples are exposed to When traditional peoples are exposed to

intense contact with technologically intense contact with technologically empowered Western peoples, their empowered Western peoples, their cultures typically change with cultures typically change with unprecedented speed, often for the unprecedented speed, often for the worse, becoming both less supportive worse, becoming both less supportive and less adaptive.and less adaptive.

The Cultural Future of The Cultural Future of Humanity:Humanity:

First: rarely do futurists look more than about First: rarely do futurists look more than about fifty years ahead, and more often than not the fifty years ahead, and more often than not the trends they project are those of recent history. trends they project are those of recent history.

Second: a tendency to treat subjects in Second: a tendency to treat subjects in isolation, without reference to pertinent trends isolation, without reference to pertinent trends outside an expert’s field of competence. outside an expert’s field of competence.

Third: the tendency to project the hopes and Third: the tendency to project the hopes and expectations of one’s own social group or expectations of one’s own social group or culture into the future interferes with the culture into the future interferes with the scientific objectivity necessary to see and scientific objectivity necessary to see and address emerging problems. address emerging problems.

Global Culture:Global Culture:

A popular belief since the mid-1990s A popular belief since the mid-1990s has been that the future world will has been that the future world will see the development of a single see the development of a single homogenous world culture. homogenous world culture. – This idea is based largely on the This idea is based largely on the

observation that technological observation that technological developments in communication, developments in communication, transportation and trade are causing transportation and trade are causing peoples of the world to homogenizepeoples of the world to homogenize

Is the World Coming Together Is the World Coming Together or Coming Apart:or Coming Apart:

Looking back over the past 5,000 years of Looking back over the past 5,000 years of human history, we see that political units human history, we see that political units have tended to become larger, more all-have tended to become larger, more all-encompassing, and fewer in number. encompassing, and fewer in number. – The threat of political collapse is ever-present The threat of political collapse is ever-present

in multi-ethnic states, especially when these in multi-ethnic states, especially when these countries are large, difficult to travel in, and countries are large, difficult to travel in, and lack major unifying cultural forces such as a lack major unifying cultural forces such as a common national language.common national language.

Is the World Coming Together Is the World Coming Together or Coming Apart:or Coming Apart:

The tendency of multi-ethnic states to The tendency of multi-ethnic states to break apart has been especially break apart has been especially noteworthy since the end of the Cold noteworthy since the end of the Cold War between the United States and War between the United States and the former Soviet Union around 1990. the former Soviet Union around 1990. – Today, about 35 million people in almost Today, about 35 million people in almost

half of the world’s countries are either half of the world’s countries are either internally displaced of have crossed internally displaced of have crossed international borders as refugees. international borders as refugees.


The idea of a shared global culture may The idea of a shared global culture may have a degree of popular appeal, in that it have a degree of popular appeal, in that it might diminish chances for the kinds of might diminish chances for the kinds of misunderstandings and conflicting misunderstandings and conflicting viewpoints that so often in the past few viewpoints that so often in the past few hundred years have led to violent clashes hundred years have led to violent clashes and even full-scale wars. and even full-scale wars. – One might argue that the change for conflicting One might argue that the change for conflicting

viewpoints actually increases, given the viewpoints actually increases, given the intensified interactions among people in the intensified interactions among people in the world todayworld today..


Some have argued that perhaps a Some have argued that perhaps a generalized world culture would be desirable generalized world culture would be desirable in the future, because some traditional in the future, because some traditional cultures may be too specialized to adjust to a cultures may be too specialized to adjust to a changed environment. changed environment. – A problem with this argument is that traditional A problem with this argument is that traditional

peoples have been robbed repeatedly of the peoples have been robbed repeatedly of the opportunity to work out their own adaptations opportunity to work out their own adaptations based on their own agendas. based on their own agendas.

– They are driven from their homelands and abruptly They are driven from their homelands and abruptly deprived of their means of survival so that more deprived of their means of survival so that more acreage can be devoted to the raising of beef acreage can be devoted to the raising of beef cattle. cattle.

Ethnic Resurgence:Ethnic Resurgence:

Despite ever-growing pressures on traditional Despite ever-growing pressures on traditional cultures to disappear, it is clear that cultural cultures to disappear, it is clear that cultural differences are still with us in the world differences are still with us in the world today. today. – We see evidence of this in repeated public We see evidence of this in repeated public

protests around the globe against policies of the protests around the globe against policies of the Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO). Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO).

– In addition, Greenpeace and a whole host of less In addition, Greenpeace and a whole host of less radical environmental groups can be found radical environmental groups can be found demonstrating worldwide against such practices demonstrating worldwide against such practices as French nuclear testing in the Pacific or as French nuclear testing in the Pacific or Japanese commercial whaling. Japanese commercial whaling.


During the 1970s the world’s indigenous During the 1970s the world’s indigenous peoples began to organize self-peoples began to organize self-determination movements. Joining determination movements. Joining together across international borders, they together across international borders, they established the World Council of established the World Council of Indigenous Peoples in 1975. Indigenous Peoples in 1975. – Representing 5% of the world’s population, Representing 5% of the world’s population,

indigenous peoples gained important symbolic indigenous peoples gained important symbolic ground in 1992 when Rigoberta Menchu, a ground in 1992 when Rigoberta Menchu, a Maya Indian woman from Guatemala, won the Maya Indian woman from Guatemala, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 for her activism on Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 for her activism on behalf of indigenous rights. behalf of indigenous rights.


In 1993, representatives of some 124 In 1993, representatives of some 124 indigenous groups and organizations indigenous groups and organizations agreed to a draft Declaration of the agreed to a draft Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that had Rights of Indigenous Peoples that had taken a decade to produce. taken a decade to produce. – Presented to the UN General Assembly, it Presented to the UN General Assembly, it

contains some 150 articles urging respect for contains some 150 articles urging respect for indigenous cultural heritages, calling for:indigenous cultural heritages, calling for: rights of self-determinationrights of self-determination recognition of indigenous land titlesrecognition of indigenous land titles demanding an end to all forms of oppression and demanding an end to all forms of oppression and

discrimination as a principle of international law.discrimination as a principle of international law.


The struggle by indigenous groups The struggle by indigenous groups against domination and discrimination by against domination and discrimination by more powerful peoples with different more powerful peoples with different cultures is not only in defense of their cultures is not only in defense of their human rights, but also resistance against human rights, but also resistance against imposed cultural values and foreign imposed cultural values and foreign ethnocentrism. ethnocentrism. – In the globalizing world dominated by the In the globalizing world dominated by the

United States, Japan, and a handful of United States, Japan, and a handful of European capitalist states today, whole European capitalist states today, whole countries that once valued Western ways are countries that once valued Western ways are now drawing the line or even turning against now drawing the line or even turning against many of these ideas, trends, and practices.many of these ideas, trends, and practices.

Cultural Pluralism and Cultural Pluralism and Multiculturalism:Multiculturalism:

Some predict a world in which ethnic groups Some predict a world in which ethnic groups will become more nationalistic in response will become more nationalistic in response to globalization, each group stressing its to globalization, each group stressing its unique cultural heritage and emphasizing unique cultural heritage and emphasizing differences with neighboring groups. differences with neighboring groups.

Because pluralistic societies lack a common Because pluralistic societies lack a common cultural identity and heritage, and often do cultural identity and heritage, and often do not share the same language or religion, not share the same language or religion, political relationships between them can be political relationships between them can be fraught with tension. fraught with tension.


Multiculturalism: public policy for managing cultural diversity in a multi-ethnic society, officially stressing mutual respect and tolerance for cultural differences within a country’s borders. – Examples of long-established

multiculturalism may be seen in states such as Switzerland and Canada.


Although cultural pluralism is still more Although cultural pluralism is still more common than multiculturalism, several common than multiculturalism, several multi-ethnic countries have recently multi-ethnic countries have recently changed their official melting pot ideology changed their official melting pot ideology and associated policies of assimilating. and associated policies of assimilating. – One example of a country that is moving One example of a country that is moving

toward multiculturalism is the United States, toward multiculturalism is the United States, which now has over 120 different ethnic groups which now has over 120 different ethnic groups within it borders (in addition to the hundreds of within it borders (in addition to the hundreds of federally recognized American Indian groups).federally recognized American Indian groups).


Nearly all state debt in Africa and nearly half Nearly all state debt in Africa and nearly half of all other debt in ‘underdeveloped’ countries of all other debt in ‘underdeveloped’ countries comes from the cost of weapons purchased comes from the cost of weapons purchased by states to fight their own citizens. by states to fight their own citizens.

The more divergent cultural traditions are, the The more divergent cultural traditions are, the more difficult it is to make pluralism work. more difficult it is to make pluralism work. – States as political constructs are products of States as political constructs are products of

human imagination, and nothing prevents us from human imagination, and nothing prevents us from imagining in ways that are more tolerant of cultural imagining in ways that are more tolerant of cultural pluralism or multiculturalism. pluralism or multiculturalism.

The Rise of Global The Rise of Global Corporations:Corporations:

The resistance of the world to political The resistance of the world to political integration might seem to be offset to integration might seem to be offset to some extent by the rise and ongoing some extent by the rise and ongoing growth of global corporations. growth of global corporations. – Because these cut across the international Because these cut across the international

boundaries between states, they are a force boundaries between states, they are a force for worldwide integration despite the for worldwide integration despite the political, linguistic, religious, and other political, linguistic, religious, and other cultural differences that separate people.cultural differences that separate people.


So great is the power of large So great is the power of large businesses operating all across the businesses operating all across the globe that they increasingly thwart the globe that they increasingly thwart the wishes of national governments or wishes of national governments or international organizations such as the international organizations such as the United Nations, Red Cross, International United Nations, Red Cross, International Court Justice, or the World Council of Court Justice, or the World Council of Churches. Churches. – Global corporations have repeatedly shown Global corporations have repeatedly shown

they can overrule foreign policy decisions.they can overrule foreign policy decisions.


If the ability of global corporations to If the ability of global corporations to ignore the wishes of sovereign ignore the wishes of sovereign governments is cause for concern, so governments is cause for concern, so is their ability to act in concert with is their ability to act in concert with such governments. such governments. – After a 1964 military coup Brazil a After a 1964 military coup Brazil a

partnership emerged between the new partnership emerged between the new government, which was anxious to government, which was anxious to proceed as rapidly as possible with proceed as rapidly as possible with development of the Amazon rainforest, development of the Amazon rainforest, and a number of global corporations and and a number of global corporations and international lending institutions.international lending institutions.


Far more shocking, however, has been the Far more shocking, however, has been the practice of uprooting whole human societies practice of uprooting whole human societies because they were seen as obstacles to because they were seen as obstacles to economic growth. economic growth. – Eager to alleviate acute land shortages in the Eager to alleviate acute land shortages in the

country’s impoverished northeastern region, but country’s impoverished northeastern region, but unwilling to break up the huge rural estates unwilling to break up the huge rural estates owned by a powerful elite and embark on much-owned by a powerful elite and embark on much-needed land reform, government officials needed land reform, government officials launched massive resettlement schemes. launched massive resettlement schemes.

– The disease, death, and human suffering that The disease, death, and human suffering that such schemes and policies unleashed upon the such schemes and policies unleashed upon the native Indians can only be described as massive. native Indians can only be described as massive.


Megacorporations are changing the Megacorporations are changing the shape of the world and the lives of shape of the world and the lives of individuals from every walk of life, individuals from every walk of life, including those they employ. including those they employ. – Workers become fearful that, if they ask Workers become fearful that, if they ask

too much of the company, it simply may too much of the company, it simply may shift its operations to another part of the shift its operations to another part of the world where it can find cheaper, more world where it can find cheaper, more submissive personnel. submissive personnel.


Corporate officials, for their part, Corporate officials, for their part, assume female workers are strictly assume female workers are strictly temporary, and high turnover means temporary, and high turnover means that wages can be kept low. that wages can be kept low. – Higher-paying jobs, or at least those Higher-paying jobs, or at least those

that require special skills, are generally that require special skills, are generally held by men, whose workday may be held by men, whose workday may be shorter since they do not have shorter since they do not have additional domestic tasks to perform. additional domestic tasks to perform.


In recent years, the power of corporations has become all the greater through media expansion. – Having control of television and other

media, as well as the advertising industry, gives global corporations such as GE and Disney enormous influence on the ideas and behavior of hundreds of millions of ordinary people across the world in ways most people little suspect and can hardly imagine.

QuestionQuestion

Most people plan for the future by Most people plan for the future by looking at trends in _______________.looking at trends in _______________.

A.A. ancient historyancient history

B.B. hemlineshemlines

C.C. third-world countriesthird-world countries

D.D. food suppliesfood supplies

E.E. recent historyrecent history

Answer: EAnswer: E

Most people plan for the future by Most people plan for the future by looking at trends in looking at trends in recent historyrecent history..

QuestionQuestion

Anthropologists are trained to develop Anthropologists are trained to develop effective predictions of the future because effective predictions of the future because they _______________.they _______________.

A.A. are holistic in perspectiveare holistic in perspective

B.B. are good at seeking how parts fit together into are good at seeking how parts fit together into a larger wholea larger whole

C.C. are trained to have an evolutionary are trained to have an evolutionary perspectiveperspective

D.D. are able to see short-term trends in longer-are able to see short-term trends in longer-term perspectiveterm perspective

E.E. all of the aboveall of the above

Answer: EAnswer: E

Anthropologists are trained to Anthropologists are trained to develop effective predictions of the develop effective predictions of the future because theyfuture because they

– are holistic in perspectiveare holistic in perspective– are good at seeking how parts fit are good at seeking how parts fit

together into a larger wholetogether into a larger whole– are trained to have an evolutionary are trained to have an evolutionary

perspectiveperspective– are able to see short-term trends in are able to see short-term trends in

longer-term perspectivelonger-term perspective

QuestionQuestion

Over the past 5,000 years, political Over the past 5,000 years, political units have _______________.units have _______________.

A.A. grown steadily smaller in sizegrown steadily smaller in size

B.B. grown steadily larger in size and fewer grown steadily larger in size and fewer in numberin number

C.C. eliminated multinational corporationseliminated multinational corporations

D.D. promoted individual freedomspromoted individual freedoms

E.E. eliminated slavery eliminated slavery

Answer: BAnswer: B

Over the past 5,000 years, political Over the past 5,000 years, political units have units have grown steadily larger grown steadily larger in size and fewer in numberin size and fewer in number..

QuestionQuestion

In their search for cheap labor, In their search for cheap labor, global corporations have tended to global corporations have tended to favor _______________ for low skilled favor _______________ for low skilled assembly jobs.assembly jobs.

A.A. WomenWomenB.B. ChildrenChildrenC.C. North AmericansNorth AmericansD.D. third-world malesthird-world malesE.E. non-human primatesnon-human primates

Answer: AAnswer: A

In their search for cheap labor, global In their search for cheap labor, global corporations have tended to favor corporations have tended to favor womenwomen for low skilled assembly for low skilled assembly jobs.jobs.

global challenges, local responses, and the role of anthropology part i

Documents

future world

shared global culture

united states

years of human history

popular belief

cultural future of humanity

global challenges

degree of popular appeal