Clan

Clans preceded[citation needed] more centralized forms of community organization and government, and have existed in every country.

Examples include Irish, Scottish, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese clans, which exist as distinct social groupings within their respective nations.

The many Native American peoples are distinguished by language and culture, and most have clans and bands as the basic kinship organizations.

In post-Soviet countries, for example, it is quite common to speak of "clans" in reference to informal networks within the economic and political sphere.

Similar usage of the term applies to specific groups of various cultures and nationalities involved in organized crime.

Members of Scottish clans often have a shared interest in preserving their historical and cultural landmarks, as well as the natural environment and wildlife of Scotland.

[7] The Islamic world, the Near East, North and the Horn of Africa in general, and Somali culture specifically, is patriarchal[8] and traditionally centered on patrilineal clans or tribes.