Political Systems

Describe and distinguish between the major

types of political organization. Know the general characteristics of leaders in

different political systems and discuss how those are related to subsistence strategies.

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Objectives4/16

Helping us to organize our thoughts Provide a framework for comparing and

contrasting cultural groups Providing parameters for testing the limits on

generalizations about human social organization.

Typologies

Grey areas

Not every example fits prototypical characteristics

culture change may involve uneven shifts in social, political and economic aspects of a society

Limitations

Political Systems

Centralized Complexity of human

relationships Agricultural and

industrial societies Individual/group has

opportunity to exercise greater control over people and resources

Colonized societies

Uncentralized Marriage and kinship are

primary means of social organization

Consensual decision making, democratic fashion

Male and females typically are included in decision-making

flexible set of political systems

Political systems often overlap or best with

varying degrees of integration Today there are over 200 states in the world There are 5,000 nations

Tribes exist within states

Complications

1. Bands2. Tribes 3. Chiefdoms4. States

Political Organizations

Politically independent group of households

Oldest political system Tend to be related

Least complicated form of political organization

Tend to marry within the group Stay together as long as the carrying capacity

and density of social relations stays stable Wet season= more people Dry season= less people

Band

A group of nominally independent

communities occupying a specific region and sharing a common language and culture integrated by some unifying culture Kin groups, age, grades

Horticulture and Pastoralism typically larger than bands Leaders have very little actually authority

Based on reciprocal interactions and redistribution of goods

Tribe

A political unit in which two or more villages or

communities are organized under a single chief, who is at the head of a ranked hierarchy

Typically an hereditary office Truly an authority figure

Distribute land, adjudicate, etc. Multilayered= chiefdom under superior

chiefdom Unstable political system

Chiefdom

A centralized political system that may

legitimately use force to maintain social order. Most formal of political system States began about 5,000 years ago Power is centralized by government State may legitimately use force to regulate

the affairs of it’s citizens.

State

Tendency toward instability

Competing state structures A primary distinguishing trait of states is the

delegation of executive authority Maintain order (within and outside boards) Controls and punishes crime, terrorism,

rebellion, acts against the state Authority is thus impersonal and quite

predictable

State cont.

Can humans exist without some people ruling

and others being ruled?

Life without Chiefs

98% of existence= no chiefs

Small societies based on family 30 -50 people per band

10,000 years since people began to settle into villages

2,000 years people have been sustaining life through multiple means

Hunting and gathering bands

Managed without a chief How did they do it?

Small groups of people Have one goal Set expectations Generalized reciprocity (a lot of trust with little

distance)

Modern examples of generalized reciprocity?

Parents feeding children Use of family car Wives do not bill their husbands for cooking

“Etiquette requires that generosity be taken for

granted.”

When is it appropriate to say thank you?

Never!

Suggests two things1. One has calculated the amount of a gift2. One did not expect the donor to be so generous

!Kung experience:

Anthropologist went to village Killed biggest ox Villagers not grateful

Why?

“When a young man kills much meat he comes to think of himself as a chief or a big man, and he thinks of the rest of us as his servants or inferiors.”

1. Separate into 4 groups

2. Read through article out loud or silently.

3. Write answers for your section only. i. Only turn in one paper for your group.

4. Hold onto papers when finished

5. Write responsibilities of leader on board

Directions