A link between polygamy and war
economist.com
A link between polygamy and war
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Re: A link between polygamy and war
#2This looks like a case of correlation vs causation. The author tries to link polygamy as a factor to unstable states. I would say poverty is a far more common factor among the countries presented. A counter example would be Saudi Arabia which has polygamy but is stable due to its wealth.
Re: A link between polygamy and war
#3This looks like a case of correlation vs causation. The author tries to link polygamy as a factor to unstable states. I would say poverty is a far more common factor among the countries presented. A counter example would be Saudi Arabia which has polygamy but is stable due to its wealth.
That is true. But the form of polygamy practised in Saudi Arabia appears to be a 'milder' form: only up to 4 wives are allowed and most marriages are monogamous. But no mention of the 'bride price', as far as I can tell [1]
[1] https://www.quora.com/In-Saudi-Arabia-are-women-forced-into-...
Re: A link between polygamy and war
#4This looks like a case of correlation vs causation. The author tries to link polygamy as a factor to unstable states. I would say poverty is a far more common factor among the countries presented. A counter example would be Saudi Arabia which has polygamy but is stable due to its wealth.
That is true. But the form of polygamy practised in Saudi Arabia appears to be a 'milder' form: only up to 4 wives are allowed and most marriages are monogamous. But no mention of the 'bride price', as far as I can tell [1] [1] https://www.quora.com/In-Saudi-Arabia-are-women-forced-into-...
I think polygamy just occurs in societies with unequal distribution of power between men and women. The reasons are generally either economic or religious. Poor economic conditions and religious extremes are both breeding grounds for conflict. Polygamy is mostly just a symptom of these two conditions.
Re: A link between polygamy and war
#5> Wherever it is widely practised, polygamy (specifically polygyny, the taking of multiple wives) destabilises society, largely because it is a form of inequality which creates an urgent distress in the hearts, and loins, of young men.
I expected that the sentence ends with "...of young women", because they are obviously seen as objects of a man's wealth and not as individual beings. It is an inequality not only of rich and poor but also one of male and female. How can one not see this?
Re: A link between polygamy and war
#6This looks like a case of correlation vs causation. The author tries to link polygamy as a factor to unstable states. I would say poverty is a far more common factor among the countries presented. A counter example would be Saudi Arabia which has polygamy but is stable due to its wealth.
Saudi Arabia is not stable at all, take out the easy money from oil, and hell breaks lose, you should compare same wealth & polygamy vs non polygamy.
Re: A link between polygamy and war
#7> Wherever it is widely practised, polygamy (specifically polygyny, the taking of multiple wives) destabilises society, largely because it is a form of inequality which creates an urgent distress in the hearts, and loins, of young men. I expected that the sentence ends with "...of young women", because they are obviously seen as objects of a man's wealth and not as individual beings. It is an inequality not only of r…
You are confusing "rich men" with "young men" (and men in general actually). If women are treated as objects by afluent people the ones to blame are the "objects" selling themselves and the buyers.
Re: A link between polygamy and war
#8> Wherever it is widely practised, polygamy (specifically polygyny, the taking of multiple wives) destabilises society, largely because it is a form of inequality which creates an urgent distress in the hearts, and loins, of young men. I expected that the sentence ends with "...of young women", because they are obviously seen as objects of a man's wealth and not as individual beings. It is an inequality not only of r…
My guess is because women are already severely oppressed in these societies and it is men's distress that can cause instability because they at least have power.
Re: A link between polygamy and war
#9> Wherever it is widely practised, polygamy (specifically polygyny, the taking of multiple wives) destabilises society, largely because it is a form of inequality which creates an urgent distress in the hearts, and loins, of young men. I expected that the sentence ends with "...of young women", because they are obviously seen as objects of a man's wealth and not as individual beings. It is an inequality not only of r…
The men generally don't select the women in these societies; the marriages are arranged by both sets of parents. That's quite a different type of inequality.
Re: A link between polygamy and war
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
That is true. But the form of polygamy practised in Saudi Arabia appears to be a 'milder' form: only up to 4 wives are allowed and most marriages are monogamous. But no mention of the 'bride price', as far as I can tell [1] [1] https://www.quora.com/In-Saudi-Arabia-are-women-forced-into-...
I think polygamy just occurs in societies with unequal distribution of power between men and women. The reasons are generally either economic or religious. Poor economic conditions and religious extremes are both breeding grounds for conflict. Polygamy is mostly just a symptom of these two conditions.
Power imbalance between men and men seems to be just as important. Monogamist societies can be just as misogynic as polygamist societies.