W5C2: ethnicity

Question 1

Why is ethnicity relevant for anthropology?

Answer 1

• Plays a part in the transition from traditional to modern state societies
• Important topic in its own right
• Good example of how people make constructions of societies and make classifications, that have big impacts on the way we experience the world. One big study of classifications

Question 2

Definition ethnicity:

Answer 2

concerns the relationship between groups whose member consider each other culturally distinctive

Ethnicity occurs when cultural differences are made relevant though interaction. It thus concerns what is socially relevant, not which cultural differences are “actually there”

Question 3

Three views on ethnicity

Answer 3

Primordialist
Constructivist
Instrumentalist

Question 4

Primordialist view of ethnicity (Geertz)

Answer 4

• Ethnicity is a characteristic of a group of people sharing ancestry, physical appearance, language, religion and other primordial characteristics
• Ethnicity, “race”, language, religion, customs; all characteristics acquired from birth and this cannot change.
• This primordialist view is how non-anthropologists can still speak of ethnicity.
• Big problem in new states with different ethnic groups. Question: how to ‘domesticate’ ethnicity to overcome ethnic differences in a state?

But: in many new states ethnicity didn’t play a role, until new state formation. Issues of ethnicity can therefore be seen as a consequence of state formation, not the other way around

Question 5

Constructivist view (Fredrik Barth)

Answer 5

• Ethnicity occurs when cultural differences are made relevant through interaction. It thus concerns what is socially relevant, not which cultural differences are “actually there”.
• Ethnicity is only relevant as an aspect of a relationship, not as a property of a person or a group. Ethnicity is relational and processual, not a thing but an aspect of a social relationship
• Not the cultural core of ethnicity is important, but (often minor and symbolic) differences that mark the boundaries.
• Boundary markers are overcommunicated to stress the differences. Ethnicity is only important where different groups are brought into contact and feel the need to emphasize the differences.
• Ethnicity is relative and to some extent situational, in certain points it’s more relevant.

Question 6

Instrumentalist view of ethnicity

Answer 6

• Variety on constructivist view: but puts the focus on why people emphasize ethnicity
• Ethnicity can give certain advantages

Question 7

Situational ethnicity:

Answer 7

• Ethnicity is relative and to some extent situational a man behave as a tribal in some situations and as a wage worker in others
• In some situations: people seek contrast, or seek matches, in communicating cultural differences.
• Example of the Sámi: contrasting is expressed through stereotypes where the other group is seen as inferior, the sami define themselves in direct contrast to the non-Sami. Matching is expressed through the school system, where both Norwegian and Sami history is taught.

Question 8

Historical continuity and ethnicity

Answer 8

by appealing to notions of sharted tradition and histories, such ethnic ideologies give the impression that the ethnic group is ‘natural’ and enjoys cultural continuity over a long period of time.

Question 9

Ethnicity always has two components:

Answer 9

a symbolic one and a social one; ethnic identity and ethnic organisation.

Question 10

Stereotypes, definition:

Answer 10

“‘Stereotypes are simplistic descriptions of cultural traits in other groups which are conveniently believed to exist. […] they refuse to take individual variations into account’ (Eriksen 2023: 269).”
- Problematic, because they might be self-fulfilling prophecies.
- Used for social classifications

Question 11

Metaphor of the inverted refrigerator

Answer 11

• Inside it’s nice and cozy and warm, but they do so by radiating coldness to others. In order to create a cozy, trusting atmosphere inside of trust and intimacy, it must by necessity emanate some outward coldness
• ‘othering’: who is the ‘significant other’ with who you compare your group with and radiate coldness towards

Question 12

Essentializing:

Answer 12

taking one element and reducing an ethnicity to that. And explaining everything from that one element.

Essentialising is reducing someone’s endlessly varied characteristics to just one trait and then explaining their behaviour from this particular trait only.

Question 13

Colorblindness:

Answer 13

people who don’t ‘see’ races and deny differences. But sometimes also used positively, but it does matter. White innocence: white people are privileged and don’t experience racism

Question 14

Degrees of intensity regarding ethnicity:

Answer 14

1. Ethnic category: ethnicity as identity is reproduced over several generations through myths of origin and endogamy. Negligible social relevance outside the household/kinship levels of organisation
2. Ethnic network: interpersonal system of interaction, accompanied by a flow of value
3. Ethnic association: in some respects corporately organised members, with shared goals
4. Ethnic community: ethnic group with a clear territorial base. Shared interests in their ethnic identity, their ethnic networks, ethnic associations and their shared territorial estate