suguluspõhine

Suguluspõhine is an Estonian term used in sociology and anthropology to describe social organization, practices, or networks that are based on kinship and family ties. It refers to systems where kin relations determine roles, responsibilities, access to resources, and social support, rather than formal legal status, market transactions, or voluntary associations.

Etymology: The word is formed from sugulus, meaning kinship or blood relation, and põhine, meaning based on or founded on. The term is common in Estonian academic writing to contrast kin-based structures with legally structured or institution-based ones.

Usage and contexts: In ethnographic and sociological studies, suguluspõhine arrangements appear in family households with relatives sharing resources, custodial duties, or labor. It can describe inheritance practices, guardianship, or political influence that circulate along kin lines. In some rural and historical contexts, kin-based networks provide social safety nets, facilitate cooperative labor, or allocate land and benefits.

Limitations and scope: Kinship-based organization often coexists with other bases of social life, including law, market, and formal institutions. The term highlights the role of family ties but does not imply exclusivity. It is used descriptively rather than prescriptively, and its applicability varies across cultures and historical periods.

See also: kinship, family, social networks, ethnography.