Selected Panel / Panel Seleccionado
Redefining equality
Abstract (English)
In most of publications the notion of “equality” is seen as a logical opposition to inequality or hierarchy. In fact, the majority of researchers study equality as a very specific and rare case of hierarchy. However, as André Beteille noted, “if we are to take equality seriously, we must enlarge the concept of equality” (Beteille 1968: 128). We propose to look at equality as autonomous, independent idea or type of relations (in the sense of M. Strathern) that can either be the opposite of equality or go together with it. For example, in Polynesian societies there are no two equal individuals because the hierarchic system is very sophisticated. In feudal or medieval European society, the hierarchy of estates (Lat. praedium) included as its integral part the equality inside those strata. That is why knights gathered around a ‘round table’ and called each other ‘pares’ (from Latin – equals). However, we know other situations. The Greek notion of primacy (Greek πρωτείον) presumed the hierarchy between the two stages: the subject possessing πρωτείον, and all the ithers, who in the very same time were not perceived as equals: there inner relations or statuses were not important, i. e. they were neither equal nor unequal/hierarchical. The traditional caste (Hin. Jati) system in India maintains inequality of status by birth and ritual purity but at the same time allows patron-client relations (jajmani system) among different exogamous jatis creating occupational inter-dependence and co-existenceWe encourage the participants to propose examples from different regions of the world to illustrate different forms of complementarities and incompatibilities of equality and inequality; to showcase the notions describing interhuman relations that presuppose or neglect the notion of equality. Our aim is to specify and precise the anthropological engagements with equality and give a broader perspective of its role in human relations all over the world.
Keywords (Ingles)
equality, relationality, hierarchy, Béteille, Dumontpanelists
Andrey V. Tutorskiy
Nationality: Russian Federation
Residence: Russian Federation
Lonomossov Moscow State University (Chair of Ethnology); Moscow Higher Schhool of Economics (International Centre of Anthropology)
Presence:Face to Face/ On Site