Week 6: Politics and Violence

Week 6:

Politics & Violence

In this assignment folder on Blackboard, you will find an online link to an article by Napolean Chagnon entitled, “Blood Revenge and Warfare in a Tribal Population”. Read the article and then follow the directions below to create this week’s blog post.

The Yanomamo

1.       Rules or laws against killing are essentially a cultural universal, meaning all cultures have rules regarding the killing other people and the punishments for breaking these rules. How do the Yanomamo rules regarding killing and the consequences for breaking these rules differ from the rules in Western cultures in general? (5 pts)

Ø  The difference between the two in general is the interpretation the rules or law. Yanomamo rules is about primitive warfare where it is base on blood revenge and killing is like an act of a bravery, a conquer and success that builds close kinship while Western culture rules/law is base on the human rights and constitution and taking other people’s life is an act of disgrace, immoral, unethical and totally prohibited.

2.       Describe the process of revenge killings as it is expressed in Yanomamo populations. (5 pts)

Ø  The process of revenge killings as it is expressed in Yanomamo populations is through warfare. Though many men who are unokais died and men mortality rate is too low because of the result of violence death almost eliminating half of the population of Yanomamo’s men. The tribe is in constant conflict against the neighboring tribe and women and children are basically the victims of the conflict. They raid the neighboring village brutally, violently killing men, many children and women are captured, raped, keep them in their tribe and marry them. Revenge killings are a dangerous for those who take part because many men from the tribe were violently killed too.

3.       What are the benefits of obtaining the status of unokais? How do they compare to the benefits of being a non-unokais? Why would a man choose to become an unokais instead of being a non-unokais? (10 pts)

Ø  Men who are in the warfare can gain marriage, power, close kinship, and reproductive success benefits while the non-unokais men are less attractive and has less success in gaining marriage and reproductive as a result it will concede their reproductive opportunities.

Ø  Comparing the benefits the non-unokais believe that by not engaging in the warfare that would go to help the mortality rates of children, women, and specially men. Though non-unokais has less advantages in reproduction some believe that by not engaging in warfare would somehow preserve life among men.

Ø  Man choose to become an unokais instead of being a non-unokais because of the reproductive success and it also indicates of greater success in finding a mate and men who are unokais are consider attractive mates because of being strong and brave while the non-unokais considered coward. The unokais has more opportunities and privilege of kinship as well.

4.       Identify and describe the relationship between revenge killings and these aspects of the Yanomamo culture. How do they influence and affect each other?

a. Political structure (5 pts)

Ø  Politically structure the Yanomamo’s has its own aspect of system of governing people. The tribal war is common to the tribes who believe that killing is a justification of who goes beyond their law since each tribe has their own laws or rules. Revenge killings and Raiding (attacking the neighboring villagers) pertains to secure and protect their tribe against the other and serve as a status quo of their own tribe. Each group has one or more political leaders which called the headmen.

b. Social Status/Social Organization (5 pts)

Ø  Part of the warfare in the tribe it gains men for a symbolic status. A status symbol of being brave and strong gains them benefits and favor amongst the women in the tribal group and kinship within the tribe. However, when the tribe raids the other villagers they also captured women and make them wives as like a price or trophy of success in their quest of revenge or raid. Yanomamo’s usually practices polygamy as result of extended family and men can have six wives simultaneously. Having a large family is considered prestige to the group.

c. Kinship (5 pts)

Ø  They show their kinship revenge and raid. Blood revenge is a powerful motive among Yanomamo and other tribal groups. Revenge raid promote kinship. However, some unokais migrate from one village to the other; they are also subject of raid and are considered their enemies. Though, Yanomamo’s are attacking or raiding is lead by the prominent men in the group. Another function of kinship is resources which composed of people from the tribe if they need more people in warfare or raid. They believe that having a close kin helps them to be more secure and protected. The village is also composed of people related to member of their own lineal descent group through male links and related to members through consanguine marriages and matrilateral ties.

d. Marriage &Reproduction (5 pts)

Ø  Men basically are the subject of warfare. Many of them consider it as a status symbol and gain more favor in marriage and reproduction. There is an absence of marriage ceremonies in the Yanomamo tribe. Polygamist by nature, men practice fairness among the wives to avoid jealousy. The Yanomamo men express dominancy or control in relationship and physically abuse most of their wife/wives to keep them faithful and docile. Many women among the tribe prefer to marry men within the tribe to avoid conflict. According to the article its “reciprocal marriage exchanges between such groups over generations.” Practicing polygamy is very common among the tribe thus having a large family is considered honor pride and success among men.

5.       Behaviors that are usually labeled as “anti-social”, such as killing other people, are generally thought to be a bad thing to do under most circumstances, other than defense. Why do we need laws against something that no one should want to do? Use your reading of the article to help you explain your answer. (10 pts)

Ø  Killing other people is generally anti-social and against human rights. Basically it is labeled as anti-social and thought this is an inhuman act other than defense because taking other lives is against human rights and cause the loss of the abilities that the person has. Killing is basically violating the right to live. Even no matter what’s the intent to do such act, human can’t take other human life by killing. However, if the act of killing was done due to self defense still the person is liable to the law of taking other’s life. Depending on the level and the malice of the act thus killing is categorize into murder, homicide or manslaughter and each has its own legal definitions, mitigating circumstances and a specific law or punishments. Except the soldiers who has moral justification of war. We need laws against something so we can be socially organized. Without the law we     would probably just like any primitive people who can do whatever they can do and cause chaos all over. Laws also protect our civil or human rights. Laws protect and secure us. Laws give justification of any wrongful acts that violates civil rights.

In the article, the Yanomamo’s has its own law and interpretation and justification of the killings; though in my own view, it doesn’t justify the way they kill people including women and children violently however it has been a tradition and part of their culture. I believe when a certain act is believe to be conditioned in human brain as acceptable within a group, the act become a rightful act and thus this certain act becomes justifiable. Thus, they do not see or view that killing or taking people’s lives is malicious, immoral or unethical. They view killing as part of their culture, for protection, security and mostly gain reproduction and status symbol. The Yanomamos tradition and culture is unique and reminds me of primitive warfare.