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Chronic problems in understanding tribal violence and warfare
1Deparment of Anthropology, University of California at Santa Barbara 93016, USA.
Ciba Foundation Symposium
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Research on tribal violence faces challenges from scarce data, theoretical disputes, and political opposition. Understanding conflict requires robust ethnographic evidence and nuanced interpretation of archaeological records.
Area of Science:
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Sociology
Background:
- Limited reliable ethnographic data complicates the study of violence and warfare in tribal societies.
- Existing research often lacks uniformity in data collection and focus.
- Debates persist regarding the causes of conflict and the existence of pre-colonial warfare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and discuss the multifaceted problems confronting researchers of tribal violence and warfare.
- To examine the interpretation of evidence from both ethnographic and archaeological records.
- To present new data and theoretical issues from recent field studies on Yanomamö violence.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of existing ethnographic studies on tribal conflicts.
- Review of archaeological evidence related to warfare.
- Field research and data collection on Yanomamö violence and warfare (up to 1990 and post-1990).
Main Results:
- Paucity of reliable, uniform ethnographic data on conflict causes and casualties.
- Divergent theoretical opinions on the causes of conflict, with some excluded from discussion.
- Prevalence of the belief that pre-colonial warfare was rare or non-existent, often attributed to colonial influence.
- Emerging political opposition to ethnographic descriptions of violence due to concerns about cultural survival.
Conclusions:
- Studying tribal violence is hindered by data limitations, theoretical disagreements, and political sensitivities.
- Accurate interpretation requires careful consideration of ethnographic and archaeological evidence.
- Recent field studies reveal new data and theoretical considerations regarding Yanomamö warfare.
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