1. Cultural Ecology II Semester Social and Cultural Dimension of Conflict
Department of Conflict, Peace & Development Studies
Rajib Timalsina

2. Fuse both the ideas and the approaches of Natural and Social Sciences
Ecology
Culture
Cultural Ecology
Fuse both the ideas and the approaches of Natural and Social Sciences
Culture & Ecology are extremely broad topics by themselves & the nature of their linkage is even broader

3. Conceptual Framework of today’s class
Netting (1977) : “There is only one way to explain what cultural ecology is to show what it is doing.”
Organization of Class
Background
Major Trends
Definitions
Approaches
References

4. Background Julian Steward, Theory of Culture Change, 1955
The first generation of anthropologists influenced by steward & published:
Netting, The Hill Farmers of Nigeria, 1968
Roy Rappaport, Pigs for the Ancestors, 1968
Bennets, Northern Plainsmen, 1969
Ratzel’s Claim: reln between Progress and Region
Theories in National Securities

5. Major Trends-I
Marquette: Cultural ecology is largely an American specially in Anthropology:
……… diverse theories……….
**Evolutionism**
Functionalism/linear school/ British school of Anthropology
Env. Determinism/multilinear/ American School of Anthropology
Cultural Ecology is Counter balancing on the idea of cultural diffusion

6. Major Trends-II Hardesty, 1977 & Bennet 1976 Cultural determinism:
Only Culture determines culture
Environmental determinism:
Env. Determines Culture

7. “Cultural Area” to “Cultural Core”
Major Trends-III
Steward, 1977
“Cultural Area” to “Cultural Core”
-Productive Strategy/ subsistence pattern
-way of production within culture
-more associated with physical world
“…was seen as having evolved largely in response to the relevant parts of the particular or “effective env.” exploited (soil, climate etc..)…”

8. “Linear” Vs. “Multilinear” Evolution
Major Trends-IV
Hardesty, 1977
“Linear” Vs. “Multilinear” Evolution
-Multilinear evolution:
diverse processes and causes of evolution of culture
“…related to idea of cultural core…” (bcz. of multi-existence of different core within a particular culture…”

9. Definitions
Steward (1955): “Focus on specific cultures and frequently on specific facets of culture (eg. Production system/cultural core) in specific environments.”
McCay (1975): “where human-environment interactions are more or less balanced”
Marquettee : recent studies pay attention to communities and setting where env. Degradation & ‘-’ve env. Outcomes occur, mostly in dev. countries

10. {human as cultural bearer}
Def……
Considers how much of culture is adaption to env. Vs. other factors & origin of cultural features related with env.
Cultural Ecology = effect of env. Upon culture
{human as cultural bearer}
Cohen: “Adaptation as organizing principle. Humans after there relationships to a habitat in order to make that habitat more right place to live.”

11. Approaches Rappaport: Culture imposes on nature &
Nature imposes on culture//… leads to adaptation
Netting:
Hunter and Gatherer Society
Cultivators
Urban Setting

12. References
Netting, R. M. (1977), Cultural Ecology, Illinois: Waveland Press. Hardesty, D. L. (1977). Ecological Anthropology. Toronto: John Wiley & Sons Marquette, Catherine . (1998). “Cultural Ecology”. Retrieved from Accessed on 2013 June 4. The End