"Bondaries of History" 05/10: Andrey Golovnev - "The Anthropology of Movement and the Phenomenon of Colonization"
Movement is life is the main thesis of the report. Mr. Golovnev considers that the movement of the Palaeolithic age period movement dealt with the reclaiming of new regions, which might be described as the territory control strategy. The reporter drew line between such terms as ‘colonization’, that is considered as the life distribution mechanism, and ‘colonialism’, which has an ideological coloration.
The report describes the conceptual issues of the anthropology of movement theories including the study of society and human life and activities in terms and categories of movement as well as in terms of dynamics and statics, and they are: the nomad is the ancient homo mobilis and territory control culture’s successor; integrity of mainstream and local cultures; 'motive-decision-action' algorithm; ‘close up’ in the revealing of motivation-action pattern; social movements road maps ( migrations, colonization, ethnisity tracks, socio-motility) and individual mobility patterns (individual motivation-action patterns, biological and psycho-motility scenarios).
Discussing the subject, we came to a conclusion than males and females played different functional roles in nomadic communities, which contributed to the movement and reclaiming new regions. The processes of colonization might go in both directions leading to hybrid results at cultural clashes. According to the reporter, any colonization is not a unidirectional action but ‘a road with opposing traffic’ and colonies colonize their metropoles in their own way (by means of captives, slaves, or incorporate elite), due to which back-colonization effect occurs. Describing the process of colonization, the reporter also gave some examples found in biology as well as mentioned phyto-colonization and symbiosis.
Summarizing the results, the reporter told all those present at the seminar about a contemporary interdisciplinary approach to the study of ‘movement’ applied at the intersection of anthropology, ethnology and ethnography.
Report: Alexander Turbin & Maria Gulakova
Director, Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera)
Andrey Vladimirovich Golovnev is Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor, Corresponding Member, Russian Academy of Sciences, and since June, 2017 Director of the RAS Kunstkamera Museum. His major research interest is focused on peoples of Western Siberia. Mr. Golovnev is the founder of scholar school dealing with the anthropology of movement and his concept describing it is considered one of the outstanding achievements made by the RAS in 2009. He described his approach to the subject in such monographs as The Anthropology of Movement and The Phenomenon of Colonization.
Have you spotted a typo?
Highlight it, click Ctrl+Enter and send us a message. Thank you for your help!
To be used only for spelling or punctuation mistakes.