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Chapter 23 Politics, Power, and Violence Chapter Preview How Are Power and Political Organizations Different? How Are Social and Political Order Formed and Maintained? How Do Political Systems Obtain Popular Support? Power and Political Organization Power is known as the ability of individuals or groups to impose their will upon others and make them do things even against their own wants or wishes. Political organization is the way that power is distributed and embedded in society; the means by which a society creates and maintains social order. Kinds of Political Systems Every society will have some form of political organization usually uncentralized or centralized. Uncentralized systems Bands Tribes Centralized systems Chiefdoms States Band Organization Band- small group of loosely organized kinordered group that inhabits a specific territory and that may split periodically into smaller extended family groups that are politically independent. The least complicated and oldest form of political organization. Found among nomadic societies. Small and egalitarian, numbering at most a few hundred people. Bands No need for formal political systems. Decisions are made with the participation of adult members, with an emphasis on achieving consensus. Those unable to get along with others of their group move to another group where kinship ties give them rights of entry. May have leaders if a person hold an ability to serve all in the group. They hold no real power. Tribal Organization Tribes- refer to a range of kin-ordered groups that are politically integrated by some unifying factor and whole members share a common ancestry, identity, culture, language, and territory. Economy based on crop cultivation or herding. Tribes Population densities generally exceed 1 person per square mile up to 250 people per square mile. Leadership among tribes is informal. Political authority may lie with the clan, here clan elders or headmen regulate affairs. Chiefdoms A chiefdom is a regional polity in which two or more local groups are organized under a single chief, who is at the head of a ranked hierarchy of people. The office of the chief is usually for life and often hereditary. Passing from man to son or sisters son depending on lineage descent pattern. Chiefdoms The chief’s authority serves to unite his people in all affairs and at all times. Usually the chief controls the economic activities including redistributive systems. May attain a large amount of material wealth which can be used to show and maintain status as chief. State System The state, in anthropology, is a centralized polity involving large numbers of people within a defined territory who are divided into social classes and organized and directed by a formal government that has the capacity and authority to make laws and use force to defend social order. The most formal of political organizations. Commonly referred to as a civilization. State Political power is centralized in a government. Since the first state appeared about 5,000 years ago, they have shown a tendency toward instability. Not to be confused with a nation which is a people who share a collective identity based on a common culture, language, territory, and history. Political Systems & Legitimacy Legitimacy in the political sense is the idea that certain leaders have the right to govern, to hold, use, and allocate power based on the values of a particular society. Legitimacy will vary cross culturally but it is an established right that a person(s) must obtain. Political Leadership and Gender Women have enjoyed political equality with men in a number of societies: There are many modern day countries which hold women as their highest political leaders. Iroquoian tribes of New York State – women elect men to high positions in office and can also remove them if they chose. Igbo of Nigeria - women held positions that paralleled and balanced that of the men. Internalized Controls Many cultures have rules or laws that are not necessarily “written” rather, “internal beliefs” Beliefs that are self-imposed by individuals. Cultural controls or control through beliefs and values that are deeply ingrained in the minds of each member of the culture. These can act as control mechanisms for how member should act as opposed to social control or forced governmental control. Internalized Controls Punishments for actions against the culture might include the fear of shame, divine punishment, and magical retaliation. Although bands and tribes rely heavily upon them, they are typically insufficient by themselves. Therefore most societies will develop externalized controls. Externalized Controls In order to maintain order, externalized controls are generally sanctionedexternalized social control designed to encourage conformity to social norms. Mix of cultural and social control. Positive sanctions reward appropriate behavior whereas, negative sanctions punish behavior. Social Control by Witchcraft Among societies with or without centralized political systems the usage of witchcraft may often be employed to act as a social control mechanism. This may be either internally or externally. These types of groups will generally have a strong respect and fear of the misuse of witchcraft, thus making it a great tool for social control. Functions of Law The law is comprised of formal rules of conduct that, when violated, effectuate negative sanctions. There are three basic functions of law: Defines relationships among a society’s members and behavior under different circumstances. Allocates authority to employ coercion to enforce sanctions. Redefines social relations and aids its own efficient operation by ensuring it allows change. Crime In Western societies crime is viewed as either an act against the state or an individual. In non-state societies it is viewed as acts against kin-groups or individuals. Disputes or actions against crime can be settles in a few different ways. Negotiation, mediation, adjudication Settling Disputes Negotiation- The use of direct argument and compromise by the parties to a dispute to arrive voluntarily at a mutually satisfactory agreement. Mediation- Settlement of a dispute through negotiation assisted by an unbiased third party. Adjudication- Mediation with an unbiased third party making the ultimate decision. War Over the past 5,000 years it is estimated that humans have created and fought over 14,000 wars. Reasons for war vary entirely upon the society in which it is found. Each group will have its own objectives, motives, methods, and scale of warfare. Why War? Some anthropologists might argue that war is a reflection of the aggressive nature of the human male. Others will suggest it is situation specific as opposed to an unavoidable expression of biological determination towards aggression. Perhaps it is safer to assume warfare as a result of misunderstanding and culture clash. Suggested Activity Have the class attempt to compile a list of examples of internalized control in their society. Have them compare this to a general list of externalized control in their society (one they make or you). Organize students into small groups and then write their examples on the board for discussion. Make comparisons of our society to other’s they may have learned about so far in the class. Or have students discuss their reactions to control mechanisms they may not have realized occurred in their society.