Anthropologists Quote by Nicholas Wade
““Anthropologists call tribes segmentary societies because of the way in which the different lineages or segments can be fitted together for particular social purposes.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Anthropological Insights, 2004
Tribal societies are organized into lineages that interlock for specific social functions, creating a segmentary structure.
In simple terms: Tribes use lineage groups for social purposes.
Key Takeaway
Study how segmentary systems shape societies.
Themes
anthropology
social organization
lineage
culture
Mood
analytical
informative
Type
academic
descriptive
When to use this quote
- field research
- community development
- conflict resolution
- policy design
Key Concepts
segmentary societies
social cohesion
functionalism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do segmentary principles apply today?
- What limits do they face in complex states?
A Different Perspective
Modern societies may not fit segmentary models.
![“Anthropology has always struggled with an intense, fascinated repulsion towards its subject… [The anthropologist] submits himself to the exotic to confirm his own inner alienation as an urban intellectual.” quote by Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe1/susan-sontag-332_alienation_anthropology-has-always-struggled-with-a_15322.jpg)
