Final answer:
Defining 'tribe' is challenging due to its varying usage, diverse political structures in communities, and often negative connotations. Terms like 'ethnic group' are preferred by anthropologists, and geographical and socio-political contexts also play crucial roles in tribal identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difficulty in defining tribe stems from its varied usage and connotations over time. Anthropologists have often replaced the term with ethnic group due to its misuse and the generalization it embodies. While many indigenous groups may self-identify as tribes, its usage to denote a category of social organization can be problematic, as it overlooks the diversity of political structures in different communities. Some may be based on extended family ties, while others depend on councils or a mixture of both. Additionally, the term has acquired negative connotations when it's employed to describe irrational group loyalties and conflicts, particularly in non-Western societies.
LibreTexts, for example, discussed the issues with subclassifying people based on tribal origins, which can be misleading as ethnic identities are dynamic and can change with geographical location. It is also important to note how the term has been politically charged, especially in relation to reservation policies and debates around tribe membership and identity. Geographical classifications and the socio-political context significantly affect tribal identity and its recognition. Due to these factors, tribe cannot be easily defined, as its meaning is complex, contested, and dependent on perspective and context.