The socio-cultural fabric of tribal communities across the globe has undergone profound
transformations in the past century, fundamentally altering the traditional lifeways that have
sustained indigenous populations for millennia. This chapter examines the complex dynamics
of change within rural tribal societies, analyzing how modernization processes, globalization
forces, and external interventions have reshaped indigenous social structures, cultural
practices, and identity formations. Through comprehensive analysis of kinship systems,
marriage patterns, religious transformations, and knowledge transmission mechanisms, we
explore the multifaceted nature of tribal adaptation and resistance to contemporary pressures.
The chapter provides a comparative framework examining tribal communities across India,
Africa, and Latin America, offering insights into both universal patterns and region-specific
variations in cultural change processes.