Tribalism in simplistic terms signifies one’s most integration and loyalty towards his tribe.
The concept is very old and usually been a silent feature of the primitive societies.
Through tribal mindset the people tend and support their tribe more than other tribes for no any other logical reason behind except his birth in the said tribe
The people in the ancient times used to live together usually who belonged to a single tribe for being more vulnerable to fear and foreign offenders.
Gradually the concept of nation evolved and the people bonded with other tribes; developed larger groups and entered into the civilized world.
Tribalism is an outdated societal structure.
No more practiced in the advanced countries, however, it is still a prominent feature of the developing societies, bearing no other outcomes except to promote prejudice, antagonism, hatred, jealousy and conflicts among people.
Pashtun society in Pakistan especially the rural areas are in tight grip of tribalism in the modern scientific era of 21 st century.
The people hate and weight others through the lens of tribal recognition.
They are unnecessarily so tribe-centric that if someone is asked for feeling more proud of his tribe or having a Ph.D. degree, definitely his response will be The tribe without thinking for a single second.
The society is clearly divided between “ours” and “theirs”, dismantling pluralism, inclusiveness, and social harmony.
The tribal tendency has accommodated the entire social structures in its lap unluckily.
Nevertheless, tribalism once considered and practiced as loyalty towards to some one’s tribe in a positive way, has now altered and embodied in antagonism towards the others.
It has promoted intolerance and frustration among the folks.
The traditional decent values of peace and oneness have obsoleted; skepticism prevails in the society.
The tribal mindset has caused threat to meritocracy.
The people favor and lobbing for their tribesmen for the official and public positions while ignoring the capabilities and competence.
Resultantly it yields backwardness, ignorance, illiteracy, poverty and socio-economic distress in the society.
Moreover, the incompetent officers are posted on the higher positions jeopardizing the social progress.
Similarly, political and social sentiments are attached with the tribe at the time whenever needed.
In this context, the political players while playing tribal-card cleverly mold the emotions of simple folk towards them, especially in the elections days ironically, and this is the reason that the tribalism still existing there.
Sociology develops two concepts in this regard.
The Ascribed status and Achieved status.
The former status indicates that the status given by birth, where a person has no to bear the brunt of gaining this status or position like being born as male gender-wise, the son of Nawab or Sardar or in any X or Y family or tribe.
Likewise, the later status implies the status achieved through personal efforts of a person like becoming professor, doctor, engineer, or a scientist.
In this kind of status, a person does not entertain the benefit of his inborn or paternal legacy, but rely on his own capabilities.
The developed world and advanced countries always encourage and value achieved status to achieve the sublime targets.
They ask for knowledge and skills, that what can someone does for them?
Never ask for tribal or even racial background that how someone’s tribe is more powerful, or his father was legendary.
Both statuses are contrary to each other in terms of their preferences and scope.
Regrettably, in the tribal societies ascribed status is still given more importance than the achieved status.
The tribal status is preferred more than the achievements and hardworking of any other person.
Tribal background is set as a yardstick to assess the individuals.
The prominent causes behind the intense tribal mindset in the developing society are the limited resources, inadequate government jobs, and the fear for their ancestral land be grabbed by the aliens.
Moreover, greed and acquisition for better education, healthcare and other opportunities and facilities, more representation in political, power and official structures, occupy large number positions in the government offices than the other tribes, and prevent settlers and aliens from availing their jobs etc.are the outstanding causes tending people towards the tribal mentality.
Tribalism is a societal cancer.
It can be minimized when the peoples are given standard education.
They are given awareness about the drawbacks and negative impacts of this ulcer.
Create the atmosphere of competition and promote merit.
Highlight the stories of successful nations in order to discourage the limited approach and thinking of the people.
Establish joint sessions, programs and stress upon humanity and the nation as a whole rather than fragmented tribal mindset.
Call for the golden principles of Islam stressing upon collectiveness, pluralism and brotherhood.
Additionally, the parents should also socialize their children in terms to promote cohesion and mutual peace, denounce narrowmindedness and prejudice.
Moreover, the notables and influential should also play their sincere role in bringing the people closer to one another.
Nevertheless, political parties can also contribute significantly in reducing tribalism and to promote holistic approach.
The trends of the modern era like individualism, competition, merit, quality and achievements should be given more importance so that people develop bounding to their nation rather than tribes.
The writer teaches in Department of Sociology, University of Balochistan, Quetta.
Email ID: [email protected] 983
