Comparative American Indian Societies

  Analyze the possibilities of social change for Native American societies as viewed by the three arguments of world view, and cultural and institutional differentiation. The paper should discuss the possibilities of endogenously generated social change for American Indian societies before colonial contact.     Discuss two significant comparative aspects of world view that may contribute to understanding patterns of change in Indian cultures (for example select from the lecture discussion two comparison points such as: thisworldly versus other-worldly orientations, holistic versus dualistic world views, differences in views of sin and guilt versus salvation, or views of harmony versus domination of the environment; or other comparative points). Give an example to support your argument and provide supporting citations to ethnographic materials   Discuss orientations of conservatism derived from the relations of cultural differentiation found in many American Indian societies. Be sure discuss the theory of differentiation of cultural elements [the nondifferentiation   Briefly explain the theory of institutional differentiation and the possibilities of social change. Discuss how the relations of institutional differentiation among culture, polity, economy and community affect the possibilities of change in American Indian societies. Give an example and provide citations drawn from the readings. Explain how the configuration of institutional differentiation affects social change orientations within indigenous nations. Make a conclusion about institutional differentiation and the possibilities for social change in indigenous nations.     Analyze the synergistic effects of world view and the differentiation of cultural elements and differentiation of institutional relations in terms of social change and continuity. Develop a multi-dimensional argument, which will be the conclusion of the paper, about the orientations toward social change and conservatism found within many Native American societies based on a synergistic use of all three major arguments analyzed in sections 1, 2 and 3.   Develop a critique of the conservatism argument-conclusion. Point out at least one significant weaknesses in above argument-conclusion for understanding processes of social change in American Indian societies.