The Functional Constructivism in Doctor Shakir Mustapha Saleem (al-Jabayish as a Model)

Abstract

Abstract :

     This paper is synopsized in identifying the functional constructivism relied on by Doctor Shakir Mustapha Saleem and employed it in his anthropological study of a village in the south of Iraq (al-Jabayish). This study, which is conducted by Doctor Saleem, is written according to the approach of the anthropological school that is known as the British Functional School of Anthropology.

     Doctor Saleem (1919-1985) was the first Iraqi scholar to specialize in Anthropology. Thanks to his efforts, teaching this science was included for the first time in the College of Arts/ University of Baghdad. Al-Jabayish vellege is the good example to be included in such a dissertation which is submitted by doctor Saleem to London University in 1955. It was first published (in Arabic) in two parts; the first was published in 1956 and the second in 1957.

     In the first section, the researcher dealt with the preliminary references of functional constructivism, the second tackled the principal issues in functional constructivism, while the third is allotted to an identification of Doctor Saleem, the first pioneer of Anthropology in Iraq. The fourth section is dedicated to the study and analysis of the functional constructivism of doctor Saleem (al-Jabayish as a Model).

     Finally, the paper comprised a conclusion which included an analytical study of the functional constructivism adopted by Doctor Saleem in his study of al-Jabayish as well as the most significant censures to the style he adopted. It is worth noting that this paper has shed light on the functional constructivism employed by Doctor Saleem in his study of al-Jabayish community.