The
concept of primordial ties claims that every ethnic group emerges from the set
of given characteristics or features. These “given” features are neither
changeable nor they can be socially transmitted easily. The transmission and
modification of these given features is very difficult and in other words it is
almost impossible. The set of these
given features contain blood ties or blood relations, religion, language,
customs, race and region.
These
primordial ties may differ from person to person, society to society or time to
time. But in every case a person seems to be naturally belonging to a certain
linguistic, cultural or ethnic group or even from a locality or a tribe. So
these ties seem more spiritual or natural rather than socially constructed.
The
primary aim of these primordial ties are (i) to be noticed in the national and international
arena as an independent unit and (ii) the other aim is practical: for progress
to raise the standard of living. So in an emerging new state with
multi-linguistic and multi-cultural people living, the primordial ties may
result a serious form by polarizing the population and ultimately inviting a
conflict. In such cases, a person mostly forgets his identity as an autonomous
person and gets absorbed in some cultural masses or ethnicity.
In
modern states, the political supremacy is able to reduce the effects of
primordial ties by its welfare government system and the people understand
themselves a bit autonomous. But in the modernizing states where the people do
not understand the welfare government system the consequences of primordial
ties may become pathological. People understand themselves as a member of
certain group or certain ethnicity or linguistic community and these masses
take part in the political processes ultimately making their region autonomous.
And these autonomous regions authority legitimately flows only with inherent
coerciveness which is illogical and artless.When people have
primordial sentiments which are different from civil sentiments; the society
normally starts to lack equality.
Assumed
blood ties: This is a type of primordial bond where a group of people want to
share an identity based upon the assumption that they have the same ancestors,
family linages and so on. So the main assumption is they are biologically
related. Mostly the tribal people in the world share these types of bonds. The
nomads and semi-nomads of sub-Sahara, the Nagas, Mundas, santals in India, Pathans in the middle east etc.
Race:
The concept of race binds people in a category by its ethno biological theory.
The sense of “Nergitude” in African people gives them a unique identity from
others. The Malay people share a
different and unique identity which makes them different from other mongoloids.
Language:
It is another factor of primordial tie which gives people a different identity.
Bangladesh once a part of Pakistan, is now independent and this need of
independence was caused by language. The conflict between the Urdu speaking and
Bangla speaking people gives rise to a new nation Bangladesh.
Region:
When people identify themselves for being from a region of the country then it
can be another cause and reason of conflict. The partition of east and west
Pakistan into Bangladesh and Pakistan was not only due to linguistic reason but
also due to different geographical region.
Religion:
Indian partition into India and Pakistan was due to religious differences
(Hindus and Muslims).
Custom:
Gujrati hindus and Maharastriyan hindus in India although belong to same
religious group there is a conflict between them due to the differences in
their customs.
So,
when a state is has a single language, single culture and people share same
type of customs this state will be more stable because the primordial
sentiments are ineffable and coercive which are almost impossible to analyze
through social interactions.
Greetz, Clifford. "The Primordial
Ties." Ethnicity.
1996 ed. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1996. 40-45. Print.
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