Question 1

Which of the following is one of the assumptions made by critics of nuclear weapons and by those who argue for nuclear disarmament?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is one of...

Question 2

Peaceful societies minimize violence and conflict by avoiding large gatherings.

Accepted Answer

Peaceful societies minimize violence and conflict through various means such as promoting social cohesion, understanding, and dialogue, not necessarily by avoiding large gatherings. Large gatherings can be peaceful and promote unity if managed well.

Question 3

What is the historical significance of Hiroshima?

Accepted Answer

Hiroshima is a Japanese city that was bombed by nuclear weapons on August 6, 1945, marking the first and only use of nuclear weapons in warfare. This event is significant due to its devastating impact on civilians and the ongoing debates about the morality and necessity of using nuclear weapons. It also had far-reaching effects on international relations and the arms race during the Cold War.

Question 4

The Xinguanos of South America maintain harmony between villages by discouraging the creation of village monopolies on the production of a certain type of trade item.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Xinguanos of South America maintain harmony...

Question 5

What did Cohn use the label "technostrategic" to describe?

Accepted Answer

Cohn used the label "technostrategic" to describe the specialized language used by nuclear strategists, which often abstracts and depersonalizes the potential human consequences of nuclear war.

Question 6

The Yanomamo create a bias in favour of collective violence by using that violence as a means to protect resources.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Yanomamo create a bias in favour...

Question 7

If violence is already present in a society,anxieties about protecting oneself,one's family,and one's resources can create a strong bias toward collective violence.

Accepted Answer

This statement suggests that in a society where violence is already present, individuals may feel a need to protect themselves and their resources, which can lead to a tendency toward collective violence as a means of protection.

Question 8

For the Yanomamo,women and children are not particularly valuable resources.

Accepted Answer

For the Yanomamo, women and children are actually very valuable resources, as they are essential for the continuation of the tribe through reproduction and strengthening social bonds.

Question 9

What proportion of the East Timorese population were killed or died of deprivations brought about by the campaign of terror directed by the Indonesian nation-state?

Accepted Answer

The estimated number of East Timorese killed during the Indonesian occupation ranges from 100,000 to 250,000, which would represent approximately one-third of the population at the time. Additionally, many more East Timorese suffered from malnutrition, disease, and displacement during this period, further contributing to a high mortality rate.

Question 10

People without centralized states go to great lengths to avoid violence,in part because there is no authority to help stop it once it begins.

Accepted Answer

Without a centralized authority to enforce laws and punishments, societies without centralized states often rely on informal mechanisms of conflict resolution, such as mediation or negotiation, to avoid violence. Once violence breaks out, it can become difficult to control without the intervention of a centralized authority.

Question 11

What is the best definition of diaspora?

Accepted Answer

Diaspora refers to a population or group of people who are living outside of their original homeland, usually as a result of forced migration or dispersion. This term is often used to refer to specific ethnic or cultural groups who have been displaced from their original geographic location.

Question 12

The anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon contributed to the inequalities driving violence and aggression by providing particular Yanomamo with machetes and other gifts that enhanced their power.

Accepted Answer

Napoleon Chagnon's gift giving perpetuated a power imbalance among the Yanomamo and contributed to violence and aggression within their society.

Question 13

In the nuclear weapons laboratory in Livermore,California,what plays a major role in drawing the scientists together and forging individual and collective identities?

Accepted Answer

Secrecy plays a major role in drawing the scientists together and forging individual and collective identities in the nuclear weapons laboratory in Livermore, California. The nature of their work requires strict confidentiality and limited communication with the outside world, leading to a strong sense of camaraderie among the scientists.

Question 14

Those who justify nuclear weapons make assumptions about the world.Which of these is NOT one of these assumptions,as outlined by Hugh Gusterson?

Accepted Answer

The assumption that disarmament is still the best course of action is not made by those who justify nuclear weapons. Rather, they argue for the retention or even expansion of nuclear arsenals as a deterrent and source of strategic advantage.

Question 15

Given the nation building practices of most nation-states,which of the following does anthropologist Pierre van den Berghe believe most resembles the nation-state?

Accepted Answer

Pierre van den Berghe, an anthropologist, likens the nation-state to a mafia because both rely on loyalty and the use of force to maintain order and control within their respective territories. This comparison emphasizes the coercive power and the monopolization of violence that both entities exhibit to enforce their authority and ensure compliance among their members or citizens.

Question 16

Yanomamo boys are socialized to be aggressive.

Accepted Answer

Yanomamo culture values aggression and violence, particularly for men, as a way to protect their families and territory. Boys are often encouraged to participate in violent raids and fights as a way to prove their bravery and manhood. This socialization towards aggression is considered normal and necessary in their culture.

Question 17

Carol Cohn studied the culture of a think tank for government defence analysts.What was the primary answer to her question of "How are people whose job it is to plan nuclear destruction able to do it?"

Accepted Answer

Carol Cohn found that the analysts used language to distance themselves from the consequences of the actions they were planning. They used technical jargon and acronyms to avoid facing the human consequences of their work. This allowed them to detach emotionally from the impact of their decisions.

Question 18

Because humans construct systems of meaning to justify violence,it can be suggested that violence is directly linked to a natural aggressive impulse.

Accepted Answer

Violence is not necessarily linked to a natural aggressive impulse. It is shaped and justified by cultural and social factors, including systems of meaning constructed by humans.

Question 19

The CORDS program,implemented during the Vietnam War,was designed to gather cultural knowledge in order to win "hearts and minds." What happened in that program that concerned anthropologists the most?

Accepted Answer

The program was criticized by anthropologists for the potential misuse of cultural knowledge to target political opponents and dissidents. This raised concerns about the ethical implications of anthropologists working with the military and intelligence services.

Question 20

People are likely to use religious justifications for violence because it elevates the importance of the conflict from local concerns to a cosmic struggle between good and evil.

Accepted Answer

Religion has the power to elevate conflicts from earthly concerns to existential ones, which gives them a greater significance and a sense of divine endorsement, motivating people to justify or even sanctify violence as a form of righteous action. This is especially true when religious beliefs or institutions are intertwined with political or social power, as they can serve to legitimize the use of force against perceived enemies or heretics. However, it's important to note that not all religious traditions or interpretations endorse violence, and that religious justifications for violence are often contested and debated within and across religious communities.

Quiz 8: The Cultural Construction of Conflict and Violence