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Witchcraft And Development Among The Giriama: Understanding How Witchcraft And Development Can Work Side By Side.

Öberg, Robin LU (2015) SANM03 20142
Social Anthropology
Abstract
A bulk of research states that witchcraft is an antithesis to development. This thesis finds that that is an assumption, which cannot explain the case of the Giriama. The results of this thesis has the implications that witchcraft may indeed exist in a modern developed setting, that people in the West/North could have witchcraft beliefs as well, and that witchcraft does not have to be valued negatively. To arrive at this conclusion, witchcraft as a personal and social phenomenon was plucked apart, and then juxtaposed against different concepts of development. Combining Lucien
Lévy-Bruhl’s theory of Mystical Participation with Mary Douglas’ theories on Grid and Group, witchcraft rationality is stated to be indicative of a category of... (More)
A bulk of research states that witchcraft is an antithesis to development. This thesis finds that that is an assumption, which cannot explain the case of the Giriama. The results of this thesis has the implications that witchcraft may indeed exist in a modern developed setting, that people in the West/North could have witchcraft beliefs as well, and that witchcraft does not have to be valued negatively. To arrive at this conclusion, witchcraft as a personal and social phenomenon was plucked apart, and then juxtaposed against different concepts of development. Combining Lucien
Lévy-Bruhl’s theory of Mystical Participation with Mary Douglas’ theories on Grid and Group, witchcraft rationality is stated to be indicative of a category of worldview. This categorisation helps the reader to better recognise cultures with this particular rationality, and to understand the nature and consequences of the rationality. Throughout the text, the witchcraft rationality worldview is contrasted with the notions of social, personal, and economic development. It is in the end demonstrated that there is no negative connection between any of these forms of development and the social function of witchcraft belief. It is even shown that social development could be benefited by values of communitarianism, which are the values that are prioritised in the witchcraft worldview. The thesis then ends with recommendations on potential further applications of the
analytical tool that was created during this thesis. (Less)
Popular Abstract (Swedish)
Denna uppsats visar att häxkonst inte är något dåligt för utveckling. Mycken forskning antar att häxkonst är dåligt för utveckling. Sådan forskning var inkorrekt. Faktum är att häxkonst till och med kan vara bra för utveckling, för att den hjälper människor att samarbeta och arbeta tillsammans.
Popular Abstract
This thesis shows that witchcraft is not bad for development. A lot of research assumes that witchcraft is bad for development. Such research was incorrect. In fact, witchcraft can even be good for development, because it helps people to collaborate and work together.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Öberg, Robin LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Witchcraft And Development Among The Giriama
Witchcraft And Development
course
SANM03 20142
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Causation, Culture Theory, Development, East Africa, Giriama, Grid, Group, Luck, Mystical Participation, Rationality, Social Anthropology, Social Control, Witchcraft
language
English
id
5155702
date added to LUP
2015-03-24 11:44:20
date last changed
2015-03-24 11:44:20
@misc{5155702,
  abstract     = {{A bulk of research states that witchcraft is an antithesis to development. This thesis finds that that is an assumption, which cannot explain the case of the Giriama. The results of this thesis has the implications that witchcraft may indeed exist in a modern developed setting, that people in the West/North could have witchcraft beliefs as well, and that witchcraft does not have to be valued negatively. To arrive at this conclusion, witchcraft as a personal and social phenomenon was plucked apart, and then juxtaposed against different concepts of development. Combining Lucien
Lévy-Bruhl’s theory of Mystical Participation with Mary Douglas’ theories on Grid and Group, witchcraft rationality is stated to be indicative of a category of worldview. This categorisation helps the reader to better recognise cultures with this particular rationality, and to understand the nature and consequences of the rationality. Throughout the text, the witchcraft rationality worldview is contrasted with the notions of social, personal, and economic development. It is in the end demonstrated that there is no negative connection between any of these forms of development and the social function of witchcraft belief. It is even shown that social development could be benefited by values of communitarianism, which are the values that are prioritised in the witchcraft worldview. The thesis then ends with recommendations on potential further applications of the
analytical tool that was created during this thesis.}},
  author       = {{Öberg, Robin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Witchcraft And Development Among The Giriama: Understanding How Witchcraft And Development Can Work Side By Side.}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}