The Baloch Insurgency in Pakistan and the Chinese Connection

This article examines the interplay between big ticket investment projects financed by the Chinese capital and ethno-nationalism in the province of Balochistan. It argues that the growing Chinese presence in Balochistan has provided a new impetus to an already simmering Baloch nationalist resistance. Balochistan has profuse natural resource wealth, yet its riches have not benefited its people. The Baloch are one of the most deprived communities in Pakistan. Successive central governments have exploited the province’s resources in the name of development to the detriment of its inhabitants. The advent of CPEC (China–Pakistan Economic Corridor) has exacerbated Baloch grievances. They believe that mega-development projects like Gwadar port would impinge adversely on local demography by attracting a huge influx of economic migrants and render the Baloch minority in their own land. The insurgent groups view China as a ‚partner in crime‘ and have responded by selectively targeting Chinese assets and personnel. The article analyses the nature of resistance to Chinese presence and the changing modus of insurgent groups. It argues that Islamabad’s attempts to deter the attacks by intensifying the militarisation of the province are counterproductive as they reinforce Baloch opposition to CPEC.

«Скрывание» женщины: Повседневная и обрядовая практика у народов Средней Азии

The study presents an analysis of traditional forms of clothing serving for women’s veiling in Central Asia in the period from the second half of the 19th century to the 20th century, focusing on its occurrence and importance in both everyday and ceremonial practices. The study addresses particular types of veiling, their common features, and differences related to the manner of wearing, as well as the materials and the decorative designs used. An important part of the study is a catalogue representing individual types of clothing from the above determined period from the museum collections of the Russian Museum of Ethnography in St. Petersburg and the National Museum – the Náprstek Museum in Prague.

Women’s Veiling: Everyday and Ceremonial Practices of Central-Asian Peoples

The study presents an analysis of traditional forms of clothing serving for women’s veiling in Central Asia in the period from the second half of the 19th century to the 20th century, focusing on its occurrence and importance in both everyday and ceremonial practices. The study addresses particular types of veiling, their common features, and differences related to the manner of wearing, as well as the materials and the decorative designs used. An important part of the study is a catalogue representing individual types of clothing from the above determined period from the museum collections of the Russian Museum of Ethnography in St. Petersburg and the National Museum – the Náprstek Museum in Prague.

Zachování etnické identity a kultury Jezídů v Německu

This paper deals with an ethnic-religious minority whose members call themselves Yazidis. The aim of the work is to examine how the adaptation of the Yazidis emigrating to Germany, the process of integration into the majority society seems to be successful and how, despite their will to integrate, they try to guard and preserve their ethnic identity and culture. The theoretical part contains a branch anchoring of the topic and an explanation of key concepts such as ethnic identity, diaspora, Yazidism and etymology of the word. The practical part acquaints the reader more closely with the mysterious and closed society after centuries, which begins to reveal itself to the world only in the last decade. In the practical part of the work are interpreted qualitative data collected from field research, which the author carried out in two trips to Germany at the end of September 2020 and early January 2021. For data collection was used the method of qualitative research. The method of participatory observation was applied to data collection, in which the researcher lived in a traditional Yazidi family and participated in daily routine.

Balúčské povstání v Pákistánu a souvislost s Čínou

This article examines the interplay between big ticket investment projects financed by the Chinese capital and ethno-nationalism in the province of Balochistan. It argues that the growing Chinese presence in Balochistan has provided a new impetus to an already simmering Baloch nationalist resistance. Balochistan has profuse natural resource wealth, yet its riches have not benefited its people. The Baloch are one of the most deprived communities in Pakistan. Successive central governments have exploited the province’s resources in the name of development to the detriment of its inhabitants. The advent of CPEC (China–Pakistan Economic Corridor) has exacerbated Baloch grievances. They believe that mega-development projects like Gwadar port would impinge adversely on local demography by attracting a huge influx of economic migrants and render the Baloch minority in their own land. The insurgent groups view China as a ‚partner in crime‘ and have responded by selectively targeting Chinese assets and personnel. The article analyses the nature of resistance to Chinese presence and the changing modus of insurgent groups. It argues that Islamabad’s attempts to deter the attacks by intensifying the militarisation of the province are counterproductive as they reinforce Baloch opposition to CPEC.

150 let antropologie: Tylor, Morgan a Miklucho-Maklaj aneb kultura, komparace a terénní výzkum roku 1871

This paper follows up the year 1871; a milestone of hardening anthropology as scientific approach. Tylor has published Primitive Culture; Morgan was signed under the title Systems of Consanguinity and Affinity of the Human Family, Miklouho-Maclay landed on New Guinea in the same year. There is no strict connection between these crucial events. From the historical viewpoint is possible to see (1) rising of focus on diachronic perspective to understand society and culture; (2) a studying of kinship as the key how to understand the both – culture and society; (3) a necessity to perform field research in a particular society and culture.

Etnická identita Uruguayců

This paper examines Uruguayan society, which, despite its multiethnic origins, has developed a homogeneous culture. The main objective is to define the main cultural elements and describe the attributes of the Uruguayan ethnicity. Based on the analysis of socio-cultural specificities, the thesis provides practical recommendations to facilitate good relations with the Uruguayan nation. These may be particularly useful for business people, potential international students, travelers or other visitors to Uruguay, and others interested in learning about the local people and their culture. The theoretical section explains basic concepts related to identity, ethnicity and nation, and also introduces theoretical concepts and approaches to these ambiguous phenomena. The practical part contains interpreted data from field research conducted by the author in Uruguay in 2018. The research is based on qualitative research methods and consists of two focus group interviews with Uruguayans, four semi-structured interviews with recent immigrants, and long-term observation. The significance of the research is all the more valuable because the findings presented are unique in the field of this previously uncovered topic.

Evropský národ vs. globalizovaný nacionalismus

The author recommends that any consideration of the issue of nation and nationalism should be preceded by a careful analysis of the terminology used. He points out that the key term ‚nation‘ itself should be used in the knowledge that it refers, on the one hand, to a specific large group of citizens – members of a nation, but also to an abstract value community of culture. He critically rejects the thoughtless use of the term ‚nationalism‘, which forgets that it is derived from the term ‚nation‘. This is a dangerous distortion, especially when applied to non-European realities. A nation is originally a specifically European phenomenon, that is to say, a community that grows out of the old cultural and ideological resources of European countries. If the globalised term nationalism is used retrospectively to analyse the history or present of European nations, there is a danger of distortion and misunderstanding. Just as distorting, however, can be the analysis of non-European ‚nations‘ in the coordinates of the European nation. In conclusion, the author points out that the humanistic and motivational values of the European nation from the time of its formation are largely an empty phrase for contemporary nations. The reason for this, however, lies not only in terminological confusion, but also in the great transformation of value norms as a result of the neoliberal questioning of national values and identities that is being promoted in the context of advancing globalisation.

Formovanie kultúrnej a etnickej identity Maoriov prostredníctvom príslušnosti ku gangu

Though often called a “heaven on Earth” New Zealand suffers from a serious problem with gangs. Ethnic gangs have dominated the New Zealand gang scene since the 70s when many Maoris left traditional rural areas and migrated in search of work to the cities but ended up in poverty because of lack of skills and poorly-paid jobs. Maori urbanization and the dual pressures of acculturation and discrimination resulted in a breakdown of the traditional Maori social structures and alienated many from their culture. Maoris who have been unable to maintain their ethnic and cultural identity through their genealogical ties and involvement in Maori culture attempt to find it elsewhere. For many of those that have lost contact with their cultural and ethnic links gangs have replaced families and community and provides individuals with a sense of belonging and safety. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the role of gangs in Maori ethnic and cultural identity development. This paper demonstrates the impact of gang environment on individual identity development and provides evidence that cultural engagement initiatives can enhance Maori identities, which in turn could increase psychological and socio-economic wellbeing.

Mezietnický a občanský aspekt oslav státních svátků v Kyrgyzstánu

This article presents research on interethnic relations conducted in southern Kyrgyzstan. This research was primarily concerned with the study of relations between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in various spheres of relations between the two ethnic groups since the 1980s. The research examined the factors of improvement of the interethnic situation in the region and the conditions of ethnic and civic self-identification of various ethnic groups of southern Kyrgyzstan. The aim of the article is to show how some official state holidays can play a positive role in strengthening the unity of ethnic diversity among the citizens of Kyrgyzstan and in promoting their civic identity.