Asad Zuberi: ANT1 answer copy

Formalism and Substantivism are the two main schools in economic anthropology which seek to study economics of simple and complex societies.

Formalism

• M. Herskovits and K. Schneider are main proponents of formalist school.
• Basic idea :

1. Laws of neoclassical economics can be universally applied to all i.e. simple as well as complex economies with some modifications.
2. When economic decisions are taken, they lie largely in economic spheres.

Criticism

1. J. Prattis marked that universality of utility maximisation cannot be justified.

Substantivism

• proponents: Karl Polanyi, M. Sahlins, G. Dalton.

Basic Idea: - Karl Polanyi in 'Great Transformations (1944)' marks that the economic decisions in simple societies also considers themselves with Social spheres and not solely economic spheres.

Key aspects

• Embeddedness
  • Economic decisions are embedded in Social spheres.
• Social Institutions
  • Play an important role in economic decision making

Criticism :-

JT Prattis and Plattner marked that a stout division between simple and complex economies is not possible in contemporary societies.

Fundamental differences in approach

(1) Decision Making → Formalism: Proposes that this is largely effected by utility maximization → Substantivism: Proposes that this is effected by social institutions like kinship, religion, etc.

(2) Universal applicability of laws → Formalism: Supports universal application of neo-classical economics → Substantivism: Proposes different application for simple and complex economies.

(3) Embeddedness: ↳ Formalism : does not propose embeddedness. ↳ Substantivism : proposes embedded nature, where economy and social spheres are connected.

Example: B. Malinowski study on Kula ring exchange shows meaningful application of Substantivism. → Karl Polanyi himself remarked that due to globalisation, both the concepts are applicable in both simple and complex economies in fusion.

Kinship Terminology is defined as the terms kins use to refer to other kins and studies related to it. It is instrumental in studying kinship behaviour and dynamics.

Determinants of Kinship Terminology.

I Kroeber and Lowie : In a 1929 published paper, Kroeber identified following 8 determinants. Lowie added 'Polarity' as 9th one :

1 Generation: Difference in generation changes kin terms. Very widely followed by societies Eg Father and son.

2 Collaterality: Different kins in same generation have different terms. [eg] father and uncle.

3 Sex of kin: affects kin terms in large number of societies. [eg] Father- Mother.

4 Polarity: suggests how kin terms exists in pairs. [eg] niece-aunt.

5 Sex of speaker: found in less number of societies. [eg] Haida foragers, girl and boy address father with different names.

6 Affinity: changes the kin terms based on Marriage. [eg] father-in law.

7 Relative Age: younger and elder are addressed differently. [eg] Telugu, young brother is called tammudu and elder anna.

⑧ Bifurcation : Kin terms change as per relation from mother or father side eg dada-dadi, Nana-Nani.

⑨ Decadence Kin terms change when a person dies.

II LH Morgan : in his book and papers identified two determinants of Kin terms:

1. Clasificatory Kin terms
2. Denotative Kin terms

→ As marked by WHR Rivers and Radcliffe Brown, study of Kinship terminology and determinants which affect it are important to study Marriage practices, social structure which may even be non-existent today.