The nation-state is a relatively recent social structure in the history of mankind. For most of our history we had our relations within smaller groups of people who shared the same geographical area, the same language, and the same culture. Many of the ills of modern society - alienation and the general epidemic of madness - can be laid to the isolating effect of the rise of the nation-state. Its imposition by colonial powers on continents such as Africa has been disastrous. Much of the political turmoil there can be directly traced to nation-states constructed without any reference to traditional ethnic groupings. In West Africa, for instance we have a series of national borders running roughly north-south and a series of ethnic groupings running east-west. Not surprisingly there is ethnic-political conflict throughout the region.

Relationships in the nation-state are polarized between the individual and the state, with very little in between. The individual in an ethnic group was a member of an extended family first, then of a larger grouping such as a clan. Clans were perhaps united as member groups of a tribes. But one's obligations became fewer as the group became more extended and the family was the primary source of self-definition and relationships. The kind of social engineering that developed over the hundreds of centuries that people lived like this was very functional, and it can be argued, much more humanistic. It was psychologically a healthier way of life.

Well, it was not Eden. There were disasters and strife then as now. But in our flight from them we have put ourselves into a new kind of disaster where we have lost our roots and our few relationships are empty and transitory. The agencies of the state, social welfare and psychiatry especially, are usurping the rights of families to govern themselves but failing to accept the concomitant responsibilities. Self-gratification is now the primary impulse and the impossibility of constantly achieving it leads to frustration and rage or depression.

Globally, the kind of philosophic neo-imperialism practiced by aid and development agencies continues to work towards the eradication of ethnicity in those countries where it is still strong and replace it with state control and the glorification of the market economy and all its ills.

The most devastating punishment inflicted by traditional groups was exile - to be cut off forever from your own family and culture. Nowadays we are all exiles isolated in our own little space. We can't go back, however much we might like to. However, as we go forward, it is wise to examine the ways our ancestors lived so that we can learn how better to relate to one another and to our planet and how to live so that our lives have a purpose and a value beyond our immediate desires. I hope this selection of materials will enable you to find a better way of life. - bh

On the left is an index of links to materials on the Native Peoples of North America. On the right is an index of links for ethnic groups in Africa and Asia. Ethnic groups in Latin America (Central and South America) and the Caribbean are listed below.

The brief descriptions of individual ethnic groups that appear at the top of some pages are from Wikipedia. I welcome any comments on their correctness. If you know of a useful link to an ethnic group website, send me the URL and I will add it to the appropriate page.