NCJ Number
46229
Journal
CAHIERS D'ETUDES AFRICAINES Volume: 16 Issue: 3-4 Dated: (1976) Pages: 499-518
Date Published
1976
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE SOCIAL AND SOCIOPSYCHOLOGICAL NATURE OF SELECTED ACTS OF CRIMINAL AND DEVIANT BEHAVIOR TYPICAL OF RURAL TANZANIA.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR PRESENTS FOUR CASE STUDIES OF CRIMINAL AND DEVIANT ACTS COMMON TO THE TRIBES OF THE DEVELOPING HINTERLANDS OF THIS RECENTLY DECOLONIZED AFRICAN NATION: PASTORALISM AND THE STATUS OF THE NOMADIC MASAI TRIBE IN THE COUNTRY'S NEW ECONOMY, FEMALE SUICIDE IN THE TANGA REGION, WITCHCRAFT AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT, AND THE BASIC PERSONALITY VERSUS CLASS STRUGGLE IN ISMANI. THE STUDIES BEAR WITNESS TO THE CLASH OF SOCIAL CLASSES IN THE PROCESS OF FORMATION, TO THE CONFLICT BETWEEN LOCAL AND NATIONAL INTERESTS, TO CONTRADICTIONS OF MODERN NORMS WITH TRADITIONAL VALUES AND RELIGIOUS INTERPRETATIONS WHICH VARY FROM GROUP TO GROUP, AND TO THE INNER TENSION OF SOCIAL CHANGE PRODUCED WHEN OUTMODED SOCIOECONOMIC STRUCTURES AND CONSERVATIVE BELIEFS STRAIN TO HOLD FAST AGAINST THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ECONOMIC BASE AND THE DIFFUSION OF PROGRESSIVE IDEOLOGY. THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT THE LESSON OF THESE STUDIES IS THAT SOCIAL DEVIANCE AND CRIME REMAIN, EVEN IN MODERN TIMES, OVERWHELMINGLY RELATIVE CATEGORIES TO DEFINE; THAT SIMPLE LEGISLATION, ADMINISTRATIVE DECREES, OR FIAT, WHILE PERHAPS NECESSARY FOR STRATEGIC REASONS OF STATE, NEVER PROVE SUFFICIENT TO ALTER MORE THAN SUPERFICIAL BEHAVIOR; AND THAT ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE THE BELIEFS, NORMS, AND VALUES OF DEVELOPING PEOPLES WILL FAIL IF THE BASIC SOCIAL SITUATION WITHIN WHICH THEY ACT REMAINS UNCHANGED. (KBL)