essay
Models of solidarity, structures of power: the politics of community in rural Bangladesh
Ideology and interest : the dialectics of politics • New Brunswick, N.j. • Published In 1980 • Pages: title , 97-125
By: Bertocci, Peter J..
AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
This article discusses the dynamic connection between culture, '…seen as a system of symbols and ideation whereby human beings meaningfully construct the reality of their lives, and social structure, viewed as a system of human interaction which consists of normatively patterned role relationships, rooted in the material conditions of life' (p. 97). Using his data from rural Bangladesh, the author attempts to show how peasant communities are created, with particular reference to an Islamic model of social solidarity, reflected in the institution of the SAMAJ (a small, localized religious corporate group). This model '…in turn coincides in specific manifestation with the power domains of individuals representing the dominant peasant elites' (p. 121). Bertocci notes that although the core elements of rural social structure are based on ecology, mode of production, and economic class relations, the ideal community model rooted as it is in a particular Islamic world view and ideological system, is considered equally important in fashioning everyday social and political life. In conclusion, it is argued that the symbols and normative concepts indicative of Bengali Muslim culture are readily perceived in the actions of the participants in political conflict, thus further emphasizing the link between ideology and social structure.
- SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
- Status, role, and prestige
- Castes
- Social relationships and groups
- Ingroup antagonisms
- Community structure
- Congregations
- cultureCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
- Bengali
- HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
- 2002
- RegionThe area the document pertains to
- Asia
- Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
- South Asia
- Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
- essay
- Evaluation
- Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
- John Beierle ; 1992
- Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
- 1966-1975 [p. 122]
- Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
- 1966-1975
- Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
- rural Muslim, Bangladesh
- NotesAdditional notes
- [by] Peter J. Bertocci
- LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
- 79092197
- LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
- Bengalis