An Ethnographic approach to solving World Conflict and Hunger

By Nigel Upton

Imagine if a 'reasonable' alien; an alien on the Jupiter omnibus, came down to earth to observe. They might, quite reasonably, wonder why, in the midst of such cultural and technological advancement not everybody had the basics of rude survival…

We are all familiar with Anthropology; it's David Attenborough playing with Gorillas, right? You may not be so familiar with its frumpy sister; ethnography. They are both in the same family, but ethnography is not quite as sexy and popular.

The ethnographic approach is to view the world, particularly groups, gangs and cultures as if from the perspective of an alien. What are the characteristics? What things do this group do that that group doesn't?

Imagine if a 'reasonable' alien; an alien on the Jupiter omnibus, came down to earth to observe. They might, quite reasonably, wonder why, in the midst of such cultural and technological advancement not everybody had the basics of rude survival, such as a stable supply of food, water and shelter. Our reasonable alien might see that, especially compared with other life-forms he had encountered the peoples of earth were essentially very much alike, so why then did ‘birds of a feather’ not flock together. Why so many factions and divisions?

We would patiently explain to our alien that, although on the surface we may appear similar, culturally and linguistically for instance we were very different. We were programmed to seek out the company of those closest to us. If a couple of English backpackers were lost in the middle of the Australian outback and they came to a small bus station, they would instinctively go over to the white-skinned sheep wrangler with the Crocodile Dundee hat rather than to the little group of Aboriginals. This is why you can't turn a corner without being offered Roast Dinners served with home-made Apple Crumble and custard in the Costa Del Sol.

Our reasonable alien might wonder if he had overestimated us as a group, if we were going to base our actions on our impulses, our governing animal instincts. He might wonder if he should be including our other close neighbours in the group study; the monkeys.

Because we have natural animal instincts do they govern us? Can we reason that there is a more important path than refusing to share with our neighbour? A higher goal than filling our nest with enough bananas only for ourselves?

What would a wise monkey do?