Idols of the Tribe: Group Identity and Political Change - Hardcover

Harold R. Isaacs

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 006012153X ISBN 13: 9780060121532

Publisher: Harper & Row, 1975

Synopsis

“A pacesetter, at the forefront in recognizing the persisting importance of ‘ethnicity as a force both in building nations and in tearing them apart,’ it is also a work of literary merit, crafted by a master wordsmith.” So comments Lucian Pye in reflecting on this classic work in political science and sociology about group identities bending and shaping themselves under the pressure of political change. These transformations seem to have basic similarities, whether they take place in Little Rock or Kenya, Vietnam or Pakistan, Belgium or Biafra.

Isaacs sorts out some fundamentals in forming group identity: the body, names, language, history of origins, religion, and nationality. These are dynamic elements that are melded together but have the possibility of creating new pluralisms. Diane Ravitch wrote in Commentary: “Isaacs's survey of global pluralism is enormously helpful in broadening our perspective, and should be required reading for anyone who cares about the shape of ethnicity in America.”

About this title

About the Author:

Lucian W. Pye was Ford Professor of Political Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and author of Mao Tse-Tung: The Man in the Leader.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper & Row
• Publication date: 1975
• ISBN 10: 006012153X
• ISBN 13: 9780060121532
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 242