Geographical region

A group of people who live in a clearly defined geographical region, often naturally isolated from other groups by topographical features such as mountains, rivers and so on.

Population

Population is small enough for intimate relationships to be prevalent yet large enough for relative self-sufficiency.

Ownership

People are possessive of things in common such as their locality, history, goods and services, way of life, sense of identity with the place, its people and local affairs.

Social relations

A sense of belonging, co-operation and solidarity amongst people, high degree of social interaction and involvement with others, a high degree of knowledge of the district and its people.

Family

Many extended families and several generations live in the region. Kinship, clans, cultural rituals are important components.

Values

Tend to be conservative, high focus on morality, sense of trust e.g. people leave their homes unlocked, clearly delineated male/female stereotyped roles.

Other

Low degree of mobility, means of living probably based on agriculture or mining. Major change rare.

Strengths

Cooperation, self sufficiency, self reliance and character, trust.

Problems/ weaknesses

Family feuds, outsiders not easily accepted, people have small degree of choices in their lives, dependence on the land for economic survival, power is held by landowners and clans, sexism is common, change painful, distrust of bureaucracy and authority, discrimination common.

Decision making

Significant decisions made by those who own land and by patriarchy.