Political Organization and Social Control
Ms. Carin Alejandia Enderun Colleges, Inc.
objectives
What are the different types of political organization? What are the various theories concerning the origins of the state? In the absence of kings, presidents, legislatures, and bureaucracies, how is social order maintained in stateless societies? What are the causes of war?
Types of Political Organization
Differences are due to three dimensions 1. The extent to which political institutions are distinct from other aspects of the social structure. 2. The extent to which authority is concentrated into specific political roles 3. The level of political integration
Types of Political Organization
(Service, 1978) Band societies Tribes Chiefdoms States
Variations in political aspects of world cultures
bands Degree to which political institutions are distinct from kinship Level of political integration Specialized political roles Degree of political coerciveness
indistinguishable
tribes
Less indistinguishable
chiefdoms
Less distinguishable
states
distinguishable
Local group 20-30/ 30-50
Pantribal mechanism, segmentary, minimal lineage Informal leadership based on needs Little (based on need)
Few local communities
Many groups
Informal leadership by age Little/ none
Individual with an advisory council Fairly complete (based on legitimacy)
Highly specialized complete
Variations in Socioeconomic Aspects of World Cultures
bands Major mode of subsistence Mode of distribution Population size foraging reciprocity 20-50 tribes Horticulture/ pastoralist redistribution clans chiefdoms horticulture/ pastoralist redistribution Group of lineages states Intensive agriculture market High density
Level of social differentiation
example
egalitarian
Pan-tribal mechanisms
Nuer of Sudan
Chief-related elite vs commoner
Precolonial hawaian
Class/caste
!kung of kalahari desert
Nation vs state Nation-state
Theories on the rise of states
Childe (voluntaristic theory) and Wittfogel (hydraulic theory)- people voluntarily gave up their autonomy in exchange for certain perceived benefits such as protection, more effective means of conflict resolution, and greater food productivity. Carneiro- states developed as a result of warfare and coercion rather than voluntary self-interest
summary
All societies have political systems that function to manage public affairs, maintain social order, and resolve conflict. The study of political organization involves such topics as the allocation of political roles, levels of political integration, concentrations of power and authority, mechanisms of social control, and means for resolving conflict.
Summary
Political anthropologists generally recognize four fundamentally different levels of political organization based on levels of political integration and the degree of specialized political roles: bands, tribes, chiefdoms, and states
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Societies based on bands have the least amount of political integration and role specialization. They are most often found in foraging societies and are associated with low population densities, distribution systems based on reciprocity, and egalitarian social relations
summary
Tribal organizations are most commonly found among horticulturalists and pastoralists. With larger and more sedentary populations than are found in band societies, tribally based societies have certain pan-tribal mechanisms that cut across a number of local segments and integrate them into a larger whole.
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Chiefdoms involve a more formal and permanent political structure than is found in tribal societies. Political authority in chiefdoms rests with a single individual, either acting alone or with the advice of a council. Most chiefdoms which have distinct social ranks, rely on feasting and tribute as a major way of distributing goods.
summary
State systemswith the greatest amount of political integration and role specialization are associated with intensive agriculture, market economies, urbanization, and complex social stratification. It appeared 5500 y.a. It has a monopoly on the use of force and can make and enforce laws, collect taxes, and recruit labor for military and public service.
Summary
In the absence of formal mechanisms of government, many band and tribal societies maintain social control by means of a number of informal mechanisms such as socialization, public opinion, corporate lineages, supernatural sanctions and age organizations
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More formal means to control social behavior and promote social order are verbal competition, intermediaries, council of elders, oaths, ordeals, formal court systems, and warfare.
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A society will go to war: 1. Blames another society for its own social problems 2. Believes that it is threatened 3. Wants to further its own end 4. Is defending its moral position
