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Title: | The elite of the Maldives : sociopolitical organisation and change |
Authors: | Colton, Elizabeth Overton |
Issue Date: | 1-Jan-1995 |
Publisher: | London School of Economics and Political Science |
Citation: | Colton, E. O. (1995). The elite of the Maldives : sociopolitical organisation and change. London School of Economics and Political Science. |
Abstract: | This thesis exam ines the elite o f the M aldive Islands, during a period o f
great technoeconom ic change from 1976 until 1983. This ethnographic
study is concerned with the nature o f the M aldivian national elite, in
particular the reiterative evidence o f both repetition and change in its
sociopolitical organisation. The first part o f the thesis presents the
principles o f the study and introduces the ethnographic setting o f the elite
o f M aldives. The Preface establishes the historical and m ethodological
fo u n d a tio n o f the study. Chapter 1 outlines the fo c i o f the thesis and
places it within a general anthropological fram ew ork. Chapter 2 places the
elite w ithin the context o f the M aldivian geographical setting, history, and
classification systems.
The second part o f the study sets out the basic building blocks o f the elite
system. Chapter 3 essentially defines the M aldivian elite and describes the
stratification system, politics, and the econom ic basis fo r the elite's power.
Chapter 4 presents the basic building blocks o f kinship and affinity--
including sibling group, affines (especially brothers-in-law, lia n o o ). and
friendship. Chapter 5 focuses upon the special role o f the “h o u se” as the
basic p o litical unit o f the M aldivian elite.
The third part o f this thesis discusses the use o f the elite system over
time. Chapter 6 provides a detailed description o f the “po litica l g a m e ”,
including the im portance o f protocol, ritualistic functions, and governm ent
service. Chapter 7 details the m eans o f social control, including the
rewards and punishm ents fo r the elite. Chapter 8 describes the patterns
and cycles o f political conflict within the M aldivian elite system.
The conclusion argues that the com plex M aldivian elite system, with its
evidence o f change at the tim e o f this study as a result o f com plex
processes o f m odernisation in com bination with a clear repetition o f
patterns and reiterative cycles over time, presents a m odel o f evolutionary
replication o f a sociopolitical system. |
URI: | http://saruna.mnu.edu.mv/jspui/handle/123456789/6793 |
Appears in Collections: | އެމް.އެން.ޔޫގެ ދަސްވެނީން ފިޔަވައި އެހެނިހެން ދިވެހީންގެ ތީސީސްތައް Thesis by other Maldivians
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