Form and variation in Balinese village structure

Geertz, Clifford

article

Form and variation in Balinese village structure

American anthropologist • 61 • Published In 1959 • Pages: 991-1012

By: Geertz, Clifford.

Abstract
This document is a clearly written and well organized study on Balinese social structure at the village level. The author throughout the text points out the difficulties in constructing a 'representative type' or 'typical' Balinese village. He therefore analyzes the Balinese social structure by means of seven planes of social affiliation and interaction (temple units, hamlets, irrigation societies-which have been indexed under , titled hierarchy or castes, corporate kinship systems-which have been indexed for WATER SUPPLY, voluntary group organization, governmental units) and how these intersect and overlap one another. Three Balinese villages are discussed to illustrate the variance and function of these affiliations. Footnotes which appear at the end of the document have been indexed for their appropriate subject categories only when these differ in subject from the body of the text.

Community structure

Settlement patterns

Congregations

Social relationships and groups

Status, role, and prestige

Household

Sodalities