Question 1

What do we call the deliberate and systematic destruction of an ethnic or religious group?

Accepted Answer

Genocide is the intentional and organized annihilation of a particular ethnic, national, or religious group. This can take the form of mass killings, forced displacement, torture, and imprisonment, among other destructive tactics. Responding to genocide may involve interventions such as international criminal prosecutions, humanitarian aid and resettlement, and political pressure or military force. Situational negotiation of identity refers to the fluidity and complexity of personal and collective identities in different social contexts. Assimilation refers to the process by which individuals or groups adopt the cultural norms and practices of a dominant society or group over time.

Question 2

Adolf Hitler rose to power on the basis of a claim to "Aryan supremacy." The Nazi rise to dominance, however, happened largely because the Nazis leveraged and made full use of ________.

Accepted Answer

The Nazi rise to dominance happened largely because they leveraged and made full use of nationalism. Hitler and the Nazi Party presented a unified, strong, and patriotic image of Germany and appealed to the nationalistic sentiments of the German people. They capitalized on the anger and frustration many Germans felt after World War I and the Treaty of Versailles, which they believed humiliated Germany. The idea of an Aryan master race was part of this larger nationalistic message, aimed at uniting the German people against a common enemy and restoring Germany's power and prestige on the world stage.

Question 3

A particular ethnic group may attempt to assert its domination over a nation-state and to affirm its values, ambitions, and common destiny. What is this an expression of?

Accepted Answer

The attempt to assert dominance over a nation-state and affirm the values, ambitions and common destiny of a particular ethnic group is an expression of nationalism. Nationalism involves the strong identification with one's own nation and the desire for self-rule and self-determination, often at the expense of other groups within the same state.

Question 4

The French have a strong sense of connection to their history and culture that binds them together. This is not the case in some countries like Iraq, where different groups have been pitted against each other in a battle for survival. In addition to historic factors like colonialism, what plays a role in Iraq's social divisions?

Accepted Answer

Ethnicty plays a significant role in Iraq's social divisions due to the presence of various ethnic and religious groups such as Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Yazidis, and Shia and Sunni Muslims who have different cultural practices and beliefs. This has led to conflicts and tensions between these groups, particularly in the wake of the US-led invasion in 2003.

Question 5

Despite their often obvious ethnic, socioeconomic, occupational, and religious differences, and the fact that most will never meet each other, the majority of people in the United States see themselves as members of a large community called "America." What concept does this demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

The concept demonstrated here is that of an "imagined community," which refers to a large group of people who see themselves as part of a shared community or nation, despite their differences and the fact that they may never meet each other in person. This concept was first introduced by Benedict Anderson in his book "Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism."

Question 6

Which of the following might an anthropologist consider to be a kind of "imagined community"?

Accepted Answer

Imagined communities are socially constructed communities, envisioned by the people who perceive themselves as part of that group. Facebook groups fit this definition well as they are formed around shared interests or identities, despite members often not meeting in person, thus relying on the imagination of a community.

Question 7

Many immigrant groups-Arab, Czech, French, Irish, Italian, Greek, Jewish, and others-have contributed to what has been known as a "melting pot" in America. What term do anthropologists prefer today to better reflect the role of ethnicity in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Anthropologists prefer the term "multiculturalism" to reflect the diverse and unique cultural backgrounds of various ethnic groups in the United States. This term acknowledges and values the differences among these groups rather than expecting them to assimilate into a homogeneous American culture.

Question 8

Babylon, Mesopotamia, and the "cradle of civilization" are all terms of historical importance we implicitly link to the nation of Iraq. Although this creates the sense that Iraq is an ancient nation-state, Iraq:

Accepted Answer

Iraq as a nation-state only came into existence after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and the redrawing of borders by European powers at the end of World War I. Prior to that, the region now known as Iraq was part of various empires and kingdoms, but did not exist as a distinct nation-state with its own government and borders.

Question 9

Anthropological research reveals that most ethnic groups and nations are recent historical creations, our connection to people within these groups is relatively new, and our shared traditions are recently invented. In addition, most members will never meet each other. This allows us to observe that most nations today are what?

Accepted Answer

Anthropological research suggests that most nations today are "imagined communities," meaning that they are social constructs that people have imagined into existence. While components of culture and tradition may have roots in the past, the way in which people identify with and understand themselves as part of a particular nation or ethnic group is a more recent invention. This concept was popularized by Benedict Anderson in his book "Imagined Communities."

Question 10

As immigrant arrivals to the United States peaked in the mid-1900s, newcomers dispersed into cities and towns, often attempting to "blend in." This was in order to embrace their new lives, but it was also a way of trying to stay safe from prejudice and hatred. What term describes this process of "blending in"?

Accepted Answer

The term "melting pot" refers to a process in which immigrants assimilate or "melt" into the existing culture of the United States. This includes adopting American customs and traditions, learning English, and generally trying to "blend in" with the broader society. The idea behind the melting pot is that as different cultures come together and merge, a new, blended identity emerges.

Question 11

In 2014, Scots voted in a referendum whether or not to make their nation an independent country, separate from the United Kingdom. Although the referendum was defeated, what particular sentiment were the Scots expressing by seeking independence?

Accepted Answer

The sentiment expressed by the Scots in seeking independence was nationalism, or a strong desire for their nation to be independent and separate from the United Kingdom. There is no evidence to suggest that their motivation was based on a desire for ethnic cleansing, the sentiment of being in diaspora, or rebellion.

Question 12

The work of anthropologist Tone Bringa in Bosnia examines the underlying causes of the civil war in what was once called Yugoslavia. Similarly, scholar Mahmood Mamdami studied the Rwandan conflict. What characterized both cases?

Accepted Answer

Both the Bosnian and Rwandan conflicts were characterized by acts of genocide, where ethnic groups were targeted for extermination.

Question 13

Chinese immigrants in the United States have a long history, but many Chinese American communities still have a distinct Chinese character where they retain many aspects of their traditional Chinese culture. What concept does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

The retention of traditional Chinese culture within Chinese American communities demonstrates the concept of multiculturalism, which recognizes and values the diverse cultural backgrounds of different groups within a society. This concept promotes the idea of cultural diversity and encourages individuals to maintain their cultural traditions while also being a part of the larger society.

Question 14

What metaphor has been used to describe the process of immigrant assimilation into U.S. dominant culture?

Accepted Answer

The metaphor of the melting pot has been used to describe the process of immigrant assimilation into U.S. dominant culture, meaning that different cultures blend together to form a new, mixed culture.

Question 15

Prior to 1800, the French were a scattered collection of groups that spoke different languages, celebrated different holidays and festivals, and practiced different religions. Development and a national language united them as French rather than as Gascons, Burgundians, and Parisians, which has resulted in what kind of social structure?

Accepted Answer

The development of a national language and the idea of being French created a unified national identity, which is characteristic of a nation-state.

Question 16

Some Native American groups strategically expand into an "ethno-corporation," choosing to see their ethnicity as ________.

Accepted Answer

By seeing their ethnicity as an opportunity, Native American groups can strategically expand into an "ethno-corporation" and use their cultural identity as a marketable asset. This can help them gain economic power and sovereignty.

Question 17

What country only exists during the ninety minutes its team plays a soccer match?

Accepted Answer

The question is asking for a country that only exists during the ninety minutes its team plays a soccer match, which implies the country must be the same as the team playing. While the other options are countries, B) England is also a team in international soccer. Once the game ends, England continues to exist as a country outside of the context of the game.

Question 18

What is the primary difference between assimilation and multiculturalism?

Accepted Answer

The primary difference between assimilation and multiculturalism is that assimilation implies a loss of ethnic identity, while multiculturalism emphasizes the preservation of ethnic identity. Multiculturalism is the coexistence of different cultures within a society or community, while assimilation is a process by which individuals or groups adopt the dominant culture and abandon their own.

Question 19

In New York, the annual India Day Parade excluded the South Asian Lesbian and Gay Alliance (SALGA) for 15 years before allowing the group to participate. This exclusion happened despite the existence of the hijra, a third gender that is legally recognized in India. In considering the process of assimilation, the exclusion of SALGA might be understood as:

Accepted Answer

The exclusion of SALGA from the India Day Parade is an example of ethnic boundary marking, where a group is excluded from participating in cultural or national events due to their differences from the dominant group. The exclusion of SALGA highlights the struggle for acceptance and equal rights for marginalized groups within their own communities.

Question 20

The sense of connection that underlies identification with a particular ethnic group or nation even among members who will likely never meet refers to ________.

Accepted Answer

The concept of an "imagined community" was coined by political scientist Benedict Anderson to describe the sense of connection and shared identity that exists among members of a nation, even if they do not personally know each other. This idea highlights how the formation of a nation is based on a shared understanding and imagined connection, rather than solely on physical proximity or familial ties.

Quiz 6: Ethnicity and Nationalism