Two studies of the relations Two studies of the relations between ideas and social between ideas and social

structurestructureAnderson and Harris each show that Anderson and Harris each show that ideas and culture does not hang in mid ideas and culture does not hang in mid air, but is created and sustained by air, but is created and sustained by social relationships.social relationships.

Culture neither changes nor persists by Culture neither changes nor persists by itself; but by the persistence or change itself; but by the persistence or change of the structure on which it is based.of the structure on which it is based.

How do group and institutional How do group and institutional structures get inside one’s head?structures get inside one’s head?

1.1. If you lived at the foot of Germantown If you lived at the foot of Germantown Ave. would you join a gang? Why? Or Ave. would you join a gang? Why? Or why not?why not?

2.2. If you were Hindu, would you feel real If you were Hindu, would you feel real loathing for cow-killers. Why? or Why loathing for cow-killers. Why? or Why not?not?

3.3. If you worked at Auschwitz would you If you worked at Auschwitz would you gas Jews? Why? or why not?gas Jews? Why? or why not?

Elijah Anderson:Elijah Anderson:Vice president of ASA 2002Vice president of ASA 2002

Streetwise: Race, Class and Change in an Streetwise: Race, Class and Change in an Urban CommunityUrban Community (1990) (1990)

Code of the Streets: Decency, Violence Code of the Streets: Decency, Violence and Moral Life in the Inner Cityand Moral Life in the Inner City (1999) (1999)..

Topic of symposiumTopic of symposium American Journal of American Journal of Sociology Sociology May 2002May 2002

((Entry to the methodological and substantive findings of urban Entry to the methodological and substantive findings of urban ethnography as possible paper topics)ethnography as possible paper topics)

Groups and Norms along Groups and Norms along Germantown Ave.Germantown Ave.

The head of Germantown Ave. (Chestnut Hill) is The head of Germantown Ave. (Chestnut Hill) is very upper class; and the foot is very lower class.very upper class; and the foot is very lower class.*pp. 366-7 shows the same structure of Lancaster *pp. 366-7 shows the same structure of Lancaster Ave. from ghetto poverty to the “main line.”Ave. from ghetto poverty to the “main line.”The head is characterized by a norm of civic The head is characterized by a norm of civic politeness; the foot by “rep” or “juice.”politeness; the foot by “rep” or “juice.”The head is white; the foot is black.The head is white; the foot is black.Is this an example of institutional racism?Is this an example of institutional racism?

Structures that make the code of Structures that make the code of the streets crazy in Chestnut Hillthe streets crazy in Chestnut Hill

Some Chestnut Hill residents see most blacks Some Chestnut Hill residents see most blacks from down town as very “rude.”from down town as very “rude.”Where does that behavior come from?Where does that behavior come from?Anderson argues that down town, showing that Anderson argues that down town, showing that you are “bad” and that anyone who “messes you are “bad” and that anyone who “messes with you” is “asking for trouble” is adaptive.with you” is “asking for trouble” is adaptive.If you behave that way in Chestnut Hill, people If you behave that way in Chestnut Hill, people will look at you as though you are crazy, and will look at you as though you are crazy, and you may be arrested.you may be arrested.Anderson argues it is like a language, a code.Anderson argues it is like a language, a code.

Situations and structures making Situations and structures making resisting the code of the streets resisting the code of the streets hard at the foot of Germantown hard at the foot of Germantown

Ave.Ave.Similarly, if you behave, downtown, in a Similarly, if you behave, downtown, in a way that would work and would be way that would work and would be appropriate in Chestnut Hill, people will appropriate in Chestnut Hill, people will look at you as though you are a turkey, look at you as though you are a turkey, and take advantage of you.and take advantage of you.

But in Chestnut Hill being “nicey-nicey” But in Chestnut Hill being “nicey-nicey” signals status, class, kindness and signals status, class, kindness and character.character.

e.g. #1 The Story of Robert: e.g. #1 The Story of Robert: Small business and Old HeadsSmall business and Old Heads

““When I was dealing, I was treated as a When I was dealing, I was treated as a king, and no one messed with me.”king, and no one messed with me.”““When I follow the rules, I am in a dead When I follow the rules, I am in a dead end, everyone steals from me and every end, everyone steals from me and every petty bureaucrat dumps on me.”petty bureaucrat dumps on me.”The view of the “old heads” in Mantua is The view of the “old heads” in Mantua is that they are suckers and pathetic Toms.that they are suckers and pathetic Toms.Why?Why?

Why Does the city discourage Why Does the city discourage venders?venders?

In the overall structure of power and influence, In the overall structure of power and influence, people like Robert are at the bottom.people like Robert are at the bottom.They were the “last hired” (in 1969-73); and so They were the “last hired” (in 1969-73); and so they were “first fired” (in 1972-81)they were “first fired” (in 1972-81)The city department that issues and enforces The city department that issues and enforces vendor licenses is mainly responsive to vendor licenses is mainly responsive to storeowners that regard Robert as a nuisance.storeowners that regard Robert as a nuisance.What are the main priorities of the police?What are the main priorities of the police?Anderson suggests that no one with any power or Anderson suggests that no one with any power or influences is particularly interested in having influences is particularly interested in having Robert succeed; but his success is key to who Robert succeed; but his success is key to who wins the battle between the “street” and “decency”wins the battle between the “street” and “decency”

Example #2: the story of TyreeExample #2: the story of Tyree

Tyree’s Grandmother - “decent folk.”Tyree’s Grandmother - “decent folk.”

The ‘bols’The ‘bols’

Tyree’s situation.Tyree’s situation.

Tyree’s solution.Tyree’s solution.

The Outcome of Tyree’s solution: He is The Outcome of Tyree’s solution: He is now in a gang, fighting in the street; and now in a gang, fighting in the street; and hanging around with the worst people.hanging around with the worst people.

Why doesn’t he “Just Say No”Why doesn’t he “Just Say No”

The structure does not insure that every The structure does not insure that every person joins a gang; certainly not with person joins a gang; certainly not with commitment, but commitment, but – It insures that enough do so that the structure is It insures that enough do so that the structure is

reproduced.reproduced.– Those not in a gang, get it from all sides.Those not in a gang, get it from all sides.

““Not an option?” Well, not quite. But there is Not an option?” Well, not quite. But there is a special role for those who have no group.a special role for those who have no group.– They are losers; they are bullied; they are They are losers; they are bullied; they are

cowards; they are turkeys.cowards; they are turkeys.

The structure of alternatives means that the The structure of alternatives means that the constrained choices reproduce the structure. constrained choices reproduce the structure.

Wacquant‘s criticisms of Wacquant‘s criticisms of COSCOS

Anderson is not honest about his own Anderson is not honest about his own position as pro-decent and anti-street.position as pro-decent and anti-street.

The code has no reality: there are two The code has no reality: there are two different fractions of the black working different fractions of the black working class that have different situations.class that have different situations.

Mentoring and opportunity-policies will not Mentoring and opportunity-policies will not have much effect.have much effect.

Anderson’s replies:Anderson’s replies:

I’m an ethnographer, not an ideologue:I’m an ethnographer, not an ideologue:The people in the neighborhoods make The people in the neighborhoods make the distinction between decent and street.the distinction between decent and street.People make choices under constraints.People make choices under constraints.The situtional change that makes street The situtional change that makes street toughness a virtue is disastrous for the toughness a virtue is disastrous for the community.community.Mentoring examples show the real tug-a-Mentoring examples show the real tug-a-war.war.

The Persistence of Culture: a The Persistence of Culture: a third anthropological examplethird anthropological exampleDo ideas and cultural systems persist, out Do ideas and cultural systems persist, out of inertia.of inertia.

What are the dynamic structures of What are the dynamic structures of persistence?persistence?

What groups, activities and rewards come What groups, activities and rewards come into play?into play?

Harris’ “Cultural Materialism”Harris’ “Cultural Materialism”

Marvin Harris: Marvin Harris: Cows Wars, Pigs and Cows Wars, Pigs and Witches.Witches.Thesis:Thesis: no element of culture persists no element of culture persists without reasons without reasons These reasons usually have to do with These reasons usually have to do with class, economic and ecological structures.class, economic and ecological structures.Food (pigs, dogs, cows, people) are Food (pigs, dogs, cows, people) are exceptionally clear examples.exceptionally clear examples.

The “sacred cow” of IndiaThe “sacred cow” of India

The cow has been sacred for 2,000 yrs.The cow has been sacred for 2,000 yrs.Only “untouchables” butcher or eat cows; Only “untouchables” butcher or eat cows; cow-killing produces an even more cow-killing produces an even more powerful reaction than murder.powerful reaction than murder.Most Indian food is cooked in butter-fatMost Indian food is cooked in butter-fatNearly 100,000,000 foraging cows are Nearly 100,000,000 foraging cows are everywhere.everywhere.Even cow dung is used and is treated as Even cow dung is used and is treated as pure.pure.

The Rockerfeller viewThe Rockerfeller view

Millions of people starve while millions of Millions of people starve while millions of cows are protected by religious superstition.cows are protected by religious superstition. Avoiding cow-killing is:Avoiding cow-killing is:

1.1. Inefficient,Inefficient,2.2. Wasteful,Wasteful,3.3. Superstitious,Superstitious,4.4. Traditionalism Traditionalism • India needs capitalist agriculture like the USIndia needs capitalist agriculture like the US

Problems with that explanation, Problems with that explanation, according to Harrisaccording to Harris

Millions of Indian villages have destroyed their Millions of Indian villages have destroyed their livelihood.livelihood.A A sustainablesustainable economy must preserve the land economy must preserve the land and the population,and the population,unlike the commercial farming that created the unlike the commercial farming that created the dust bowl.dust bowl.Killing a cow creates one feast for one family in Killing a cow creates one feast for one family in the short run, and disaster for the community in the short run, and disaster for the community in the not very long run.the not very long run.Even when a cow is too old to calf and is past Even when a cow is too old to calf and is past milking, it is crucial to the ecology.milking, it is crucial to the ecology.

Harris’ explanation:Harris’ explanation:

700,000,000 tons of cow manure per year are 700,000,000 tons of cow manure per year are crucial to preventing ecological disaster.crucial to preventing ecological disaster.

The non-cow-owners have a particularly strong The non-cow-owners have a particularly strong motive for saving even an old cow.motive for saving even an old cow.

Unless we look at the social and ecological long Unless we look at the social and ecological long run dynamics, we cannot understand present run dynamics, we cannot understand present arrangements or suggest reasonable changes.arrangements or suggest reasonable changes.

Mixture of functionalism and conflict theoryMixture of functionalism and conflict theory

But why make the cow sacred?But why make the cow sacred?

The cultural rules that preserve the society The cultural rules that preserve the society as a whole – particularly those that require as a whole – particularly those that require that people act in the public interest – that people act in the public interest – usually take this form.usually take this form.

Bargaining over when to kill which cows Bargaining over when to kill which cows could never preserve the society.could never preserve the society.

For all cows to be sacred for all Hindus For all cows to be sacred for all Hindus can and did preserve the society.can and did preserve the society.

2 Aspects of Bureaucracy2 Aspects of Bureaucracy

Nice:Nice:

1.1. Efficient,Efficient,

2.2. Systematic,Systematic,

3.3. FairFair

E.g. the passport E.g. the passport officeoffice

NastyNasty

1.1. Bottom lineBottom line

2.2. ArbitraryArbitrary

3.3. Without valuesWithout values

Parking authorityParking authority

The debate about Weber:The debate about Weber:

Weber believed that modern rational Weber believed that modern rational organization has to be exploitative (one organization has to be exploitative (one needs to concentrate resources) and needs to concentrate resources) and undemocratic (one needs chain of undemocratic (one needs chain of command.)command.)

But this produces a society of Auschwitzes But this produces a society of Auschwitzes – a world without community or value.– a world without community or value.

Getting the best of both worlds:Getting the best of both worlds:

Marx, Durkheim, Murray, and a host of Marx, Durkheim, Murray, and a host of other sociologists have tried to get the other sociologists have tried to get the best of both worlds:best of both worlds:

Bureaucartic rationality and efficiency.Bureaucartic rationality and efficiency.

Social conscience and community.Social conscience and community.

Buddy systems and other ways of Buddy systems and other ways of structuring formal organization in such a structuring formal organization in such a way as to use primary group structures.way as to use primary group structures.

Alcoholics Anonymous as a Alcoholics Anonymous as a Hybrid Form.Hybrid Form.

Primary Group Primary Group Characteristics:Characteristics:

1.1. Small groupsSmall groups

2.2. High fellowshipHigh fellowship

3.3. No ProfessionalsNo Professionals

4.4. No Authority - No Authority - sponsorshipsponsorship

5.5. Core identityCore identity

Secondary group Secondary group Characteristics:Characteristics:

1.1. Tens of millions of Tens of millions of members.members.

2.2. Anonymity.Anonymity.

3.3. Service arms.Service arms.

4.4. Conferences.Conferences.

5.5. Open networks.Open networks.

Alcoholics Anonymous as a Alcoholics Anonymous as a SPINSPIN

The reason that AA can generate several The reason that AA can generate several million members in Russia in a few years is million members in Russia in a few years is that it is a kind of SPINthat it is a kind of SPINThe groups are autonomous and independentThe groups are autonomous and independentThere are no leaders who could disgrace the There are no leaders who could disgrace the organization by falling off the wagonorganization by falling off the wagonBut the members are committed to the But the members are committed to the organization and to its expansion.organization and to its expansion.It can often socialize and incorporate new It can often socialize and incorporate new members relatively rapidly.members relatively rapidly.