IDEOLOGY AND DOMINATION: TOWARD A RECONSTRUCTION OF AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL SOCIAL FORMATION1

Abstract

OceaniaVolume 50, Issue 2 p. 118-132 Article IDEOLOGY AND DOMINATION: TOWARD A RECONSTRUCTION OF AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL SOCIAL FORMATION1 John Bern, John BernThe University of Newcastle, N.S.W.Search for more papers by this author John Bern, John BernThe University of Newcastle, N.S.W.Search for more papers by this author First published: December 1979 https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1834-4461.1979.tb01948.xCitations: 34 ‡ This essay is part of a larger and more ambitious project: the analysis of the Australian Aboriginal social formation within a Marxist problematic. My longer term project has three related goals. One is the analysis of the structure of the specific Australian Aboriginal social formation. What are the relations of ownership? How are they developed ideologically? And so on. Secondly my study is intended as a contribution to the understanding of pre-capitalist social formations and specifically to the characteristics of, and the limitations on, the relations of exploitation. The third goal is more closely related to the historical present. The distinctiveness of the Aboriginal social formation has been and to some extent continues to be a factor in the specific relations of exploitation of Australian capitalism. This task is, however, far from complete. In the present essay I tackle only one issue — the structure of domination at the political level. I have been working on the ideas in this paper for a number of years and have imposed my thoughts on many friends and colleagues and incurred many debts. Jan Larbalestier continues to argue the issues with me, and her contribution continues to be incalculable. The Departments of Anthropology at the University of Sydney and the Australian National University heard earlier versions of my paper and their support and criticism is valued. Finally my friend and constant critic, Les Hiatt, has been generous with both encouragement and forebearance. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume50, Issue2December 1979Pages 118-132 RelatedInformation