ANT207H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: International Inequality, Industrial Revolution
Professor Tanya Li Dec. 1, 2016
ANT207 LECTURE 12
REVIEW
MODERNIZATION THEORIES (REVISITED)
1. Homogenization
• Cities were expected to be sites of homogenization, where people of diverse origins
remake themselves, become anonymous—and will be judged on their merits
- Studies show bounded groups are also re/created to provide order, meaning,
identity; also to provide assistance (such as ethnic networking to find jobs, etc.)
- However, half of the planet still lives in rural environments, so this didn’t really
turn out as projected
2. Secularization
• Secularization expected to follow from exposure to science and education
- Religious groups?
3. Urbanization & Industry
• All parts of the globe expected to follow the transition from farm to factory, county to
city, repeating the “industrial revolution” or 19th century Europe
- Actual transitions uneven—some bypassed or stuck (Ex. LE = “educated
unemployed”)
- Poor regions enter global markets on adverse terms (Ex. garment manufacturing I
Bangladesh)
- National boundaries limit flows of labour (but not capital, media, goods)
4. Desire
• Desire for modernity has become pervasive
- Lauje highlanders had ideas of progress, “increase” = a tin roofed house and
children in school
- Few people living in poverty and aware of local and global inequality are satisfied
with their lot
- Change may be sought (as in LE) or imposed (see examples in SCP) with uneven
outcomes
- People seldom reject modernity as such, but may reject plans that expose them to
high risks and losses
5. Occupation (for social status, income, life goals/trajectory, etc.)
EXAM ESSAY QUESTIONS
1) What unique insights do anthropologists generate by insisting that economy, politics,
kinship, and religion are integrally linked?
2) Inequality is not natural. Do you agree or disagree?
- Define “natural” POV “For the purpose of this essay I will argue that it refers
to [biological nature/DNA] …”
3) Why do gender roles shift together with changes in the economic system?
4) Why do identities based on religious, racial, ethnic or cultural difference continue to be
important in "modern" times?
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Modernization theories (revisited) : homogenization, cities were expected to be sites of homogenization, where people of diverse origins remake themselves, become anonymous and will be judged on their merits. Studies show bounded groups are also re/created to provide order, meaning, identity; also to provide assistance (such as ethnic networking to find jobs, etc. ) However, half of the planet still lives in rural environments, so this didn"t really turn out as projected: secularization, secularization expected to follow from exposure to science and education. Religious groups: urbanization & industry, all parts of the globe expected to follow the transition from farm to factory, county to city, repeating the industrial revolution or 19th century europe. Actual transitions uneven some bypassed or stuck (ex. Poor regions enter global markets on adverse terms (ex. garment manufacturing i. National boundaries limit flows of labour (but not capital, media, goods: desire, desire for modernity has become pervasive.
