ABSTRACT

This chapter describes process of tribalization in response to the exigencies of colonial administration and enhanced by ethnographic classifications. In the context of French colonial rule, it explains Catholic missionary ethnographers were much less interested in ethnographic classification, because of their interest in conversion as a process inducing cultural change. Whatever the nature of American Special Forces discourse on Montagnards, their political and military activities involving Montagnards created a need for more, and more accurate, knowledge on the Montagnards. Montagnard cultures were conceived of as integrated social systems, albeit governed by evil principles. Contrary to the missionaries, however, Special Forces seemed much more eager to delve into Montagnard cultures. Ethnographic knowledge and sensitivity were seen as prerequisites for efficacious ethnic and missionary policies. The natural academic reference for ethnographic surveys was the prestigious Human Relations Area Files, established at Yale University by George Murdock.