Reading MAX Gluckman (1940) Analysis OF A Social Situation IN Modern Zululand PDF

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Summary of Gluckman's Analysis of a Social Situation in Modern Zululand published in Bantu Studies...

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Reading: MAX GLUCKMAN (1940) ANALYSIS OF A SOCIAL SITUATION IN MODERN ZULULAND, Bantu Studies, 14:1, 1-30, DOI: 10.1080/02561751.1940.9676107 Gluckman - a South African and British social anthropologist. He is best known as the founder of the Manchester School of anthropology. Conflict Theory. Gluckman combined the British school of structural-functionalism with a Marxist focus on inequality and oppression, creating a critique of colonialism from within structuralism. In his research on Zululand in South Africa, he argued that the African and European communities formed a single social system, one whose schism into two racial groups formed the basis of its structural unity. Notes: doi: 10.1080/02561751.1940.9676107 ANALYSIS OF A SOCIAL SITUATION IN MODERN ZULULAND MAX GLUCKMAN 1940 Intro ●

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'the State [of South Africa] is constituted basically by its division into colour-groups of varying status. The social system of the Union therefore largely consists of interdependent relations between and within colour-groups as colour-groups.' p.1 Race relations in Northern Zululand (Gluckman spent 16 months there 36-38). Segregated living spaces for Black South Africans Attempting to trace the relationship of one territorial section of the Union's social system to the whole system. Suggests this 'possibly presents analogies with other areas within heterogeneous States where socially inferior groups (racial, political and economic) live separately from, but interrelated with, dominant groups.' p.2

Social Situation ● Describes a social situation of a particular day. Gluckman, Chief's Duputy Matolana Ndwandwe (advisory to and representative of the Zulu King), Richard and an old man picked up along the way go to Nongoma for a bridge opening and a magisterial district meeting. ● Gluckman et al offered a lift by Government Veterinary Officer (his schoolfriend). These two sit in the front, three Zulu in back. ● Drive past the car of Chief Mshiyeni Regent of the Zulu Royal House. Three Zulu give him royal wave, two Euro men 'greet'. ● At bridge event: 'Altogether there were about twenty-four Europeans and about four hundred Zulu present.' p.5. Zulu and Euros stand separate. ● Mahlabatini magistrate speech in English despite the disproportion of Zulu-Euros. CNC gave speech in both languages. Regent Mshiyeni gave speech in Zulu, translated to English by Mkhize. ● Euros given tea and cake in a shelter & discussed current Zululand/general affairs. Regent and Zulus remain outside and shot four cattle/ skin and cut up. Regent drank

beer with his people. Analysis: ● 'All events which involve or affect human beings are socialised, from the falling of rain and earthquakes to birth and death, eating and defecation. If the mortuary ceremonies are performed for a man that man is socially dead; initiation makes a youth socially a man, whatever his physical age.' p.10 ● Social situation = an event being studied sociologically ○ 'A social situation is thus the behaviour on some occasion of members of a community as such, analysed and compared with their behaviour on other occasions, so that the analysis reveals the underlying system of relationships between the social structure of the community, the parts of the social structure, the physical environment, and the physiological life of the community's members.' p.10 ● Two disparate communities as one - Zulu and European: 'That Zulu and Europeans could co-operate in the celebration at the bridge shows that they form together a community with specific modes of behaviour to one another.' p.10 ● Points to the theoretical importance of 'culture contact' in study of social change in Africa. This theory was criticised by Malinowski. (=contact between peoples with different cultures, usually leading to change in both systems). ● Utilises this theory to analyse the single Black-White community in Zululand ● Malungwana bridge dichotomies: ○ planned by Euro engineers - built by Zulu labourers ○ Used by Euro magistrates ruling Zulu - used by Zulu women to go to Euro hospital ○ Opened by Euro officials - opened by Zulu Regent ○ Ceremony included Euros - included Zulus and historically derived cultural actions from both ● Uses Zululand and Zululanders to cover white and black populations. ● Some of the parts of the ceremony Gluckman notes in favour of one community are in fact Euro decisions made 'to give a touch of colour and excitement to the celebrations' p.12 i.e Zulu warrior pointing directions to bridge ● Talks about the integration of certain incidents into the overall planned structure of the events as being representative of the social structure/ institutions of modern Zululand society ● 'Separation appears throughout Zulu-European behaviour patterns. However, socially enforced and accepted separation can be a form of association, indeed co-operation, even where carried to the extreme of avoidance...Black and White are two categories which must not mix, like castes in India, or the categories of men and women in many communities. On the other hand, through a son is distinct from his father in their social relationship, he in his turn becomes a father. In Zululand a Black can never become a White. To the Whites the maintenance of this separation is a dominant value which emerges in the policy of so-called "segregation" and "parallel development"' p.13-14 ● Relations black-white are marked by hostility and conflict (Matolana's complains against

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dipping, and the existence of the dissident Zulu church). 'The schism between the two colour-groups is itself the pattern of their main integration into one community' p.14 - WHAT? Painting colonialism to look like community. The two groups is seen by Gluckman as distinct in the ways they each inter-relate to the wider S-A community and involves separation, conflict and co-operative modes of behaviour. Distinguished by colour, race, language, beliefs, knowledge, traditions, material possessions. These differences are balanced by customs and communication. p14 'The functioning of the social structure of Zululand is to be seen in political, ecological and other activities. Politically, it is clear that dominant power is vested in Government of the White group under whom the chiefs... are subordinate officials. Government holds the ultimate sanction of force, of fining and imprisonment.' p.14-15 'In the wider economic aspect of Zululand life, Zulu and Europeans are equally interrelated... This economic integration of Zululand into the South African industrial and agricultural system dominates the social structure. The labour flow includes practically all able-bodies Zulu.' p.16 Mentions the nature of the labour flow as a mechanism for Zulu peoples to meet Bantu from all over Southern Africa (at labour centres), creating cross-cutting ties with other tribes, negating some of the authority of chiefs/ princes. 'At the labour centres the chiefs have no legal status over the people... it is only White officials who maintain order and control conditions of work, enforcing contracts, pass laws, etc' p.17 'The political task of Government is primarily to maintain and control the labour-flow, so as to satisfy, if possible, the labour needs of the Whites and yet to prevent that labour flow resulting in large numbers of Blacks settling in the towns.' p.17

Opposition to white rule: ● Mentions again the developing cross-cutting ties between workers of different tribal groupings (development of trade union organisations). Does not conflict with tribal allegiance - even where the allegiance depends on opposition to Whites. ● How Zulu opposition to Euro rule is expressed in religious organisations ● 'All this opposition-through chiefs, churches and trade unions-is not effective and at present gives psychological satisfaction only, since the severity of European domination is increasing. Therefore the opposition occasionally breaks out in riot and assaults on police and officials,s which are forcibly repressed. These events provoke violent reaction from the White group and, without apparent basis but in line with modern witchcraftthought, the immediate accusation without enquiry that they are due to Communist propaganda.' p.19 ●

'The two groups have on the whole different modes of life, customs and beliefs. All Europeans in the Reserves have specialised activities ;' the Zulu, though they also work for Europeans, are unskilled peasants, allowed to farm only in the areas reserved for them. There they live under a type of social organisation, by values and customs, which are different from those of the European group, though at every point affected by its presence. However, even where the differences between Zulu and Europeans are

marked, they adapt their behaviour to each other in socially determined ways when they associate with one another.' p.20 ● ●

Co-operation determined by mutual exploitation of natural resources. 'The Zulu desire for the material goods of the Europeans, and the Europeans' need for Zulu labour and the wealth obtained by that labour, establishes strong inter-dependent interests between them. It is also a potent source of their conflict.' p.21

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'It must be added that relationships between individual Zulu and Europeans vary in many ways from the general social norm, though they are always affected by it.' p.21 - goes on to mention several kinds of cross-cutting ties that exist within and around social norms (incl role of anthropologist, different kinds of employers, pagans and Christians within Zulus) ○ : 'The schism between Christians and pagans is crossed by ties of kinship, colour, political allegiance and culture...This affiliation of the Christian Zulu to both colour-groups creates a certain tension between them and pagan Zulu, which is only partly resolved by the ties between them, and it appears in the existence of the separatist Native Christian sect' p.23 - this is the most formalised division between Zulus and Europeans.

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Mentions other divisions which pre-exist British occupation (although are still affected by Black-White relations): ○ Zulu tribes, within which exist tribal sections and administrative wards. Exisisting hierarchy of Zulu princes and commons, Regent and chiefs. Some of these political groups are units in the system of Euro Government rule. Tribal divisions are a source of conflict, but tribes unite as Zulu nation against other Bantu nations, and Bantu nations unite as a single group against Europeans. May express loyalty to government in war times.

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Mention of importance of kinship ties, and neighbourly ties of friendly co-operation. 'They have their own tensions which flare up in quarrels leading to lawsuits and charges of sorcery... nevertheless, in them, with their strong sentimental attachments, the tensions caused by conflict of membership of the other divisions in the Zulu group are partly solves.' p.26 Including issues between pagans:christians, adopters of euro ways: non adopters - cross cutting ties in action of social cohesion.

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Regarding social structure in modern Zululand: 'one person may be a member of many groups, sometimes opposed to each other, sometimes united against another group... many relationships and interests may interest in one person' p.27 ○ 'Thus the main groups of Europeans and Zulu are split into subsidiary groups, formalised and unformalised, and the membership of these groups changes for the individual according to the interests, values and motives which determine his behaviour in different situations.' p.27 ○ Relations and conflicts between the groups and caused by an individual's

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membership of the groups? 'To sum up the situation at the bridge, one may say that the groups and individuals present behave as they do because the bridge, which is the centre of their interests, associates them in a common celebration. As a result of their common interest they act by customs of co-operation and communication, even though the two colour-groups are divided according to the pattern of the social structure' p.28 on Zululand social structure as a functioning unit in a temporary equilibrium: 'To this analysis I add, as of fundamental importance, that the superior force of the White group (which did not appear in my analysis) is the final social factor in maintaining this equilibrium.' p.28...