Question 1

How does one distinguish between a chiefdom and a state? Is this a useful distinction? Is it always easy to make such a distinction?

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Question 2

What factors are responsible for the variable development of political regulation and authority structures among pastoralists?

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Question 3

This chapter describes various ways in which dominant members of society exert control over a population by resorting to indirect or even covert means. What are some examples of this? What concepts have some come up with to understand the social dynamics that arise from these situations? Can you think of some contemporary examples of the use of these means of control?

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Question 4

What are the differences between shame and guilt? Why is it important for anthropologists interested in understanding sociopolitical organization to pay attention to people's concerns with shame or guilt in the communities they study?

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Question 5

Contrast two of the following as political regulators:

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Sodalities based on age and gender are social institutions that organize members of a society into groups primarily based on their age and sometimes by gender. These groups, often referred to as age sets or age grades, can play significant roles in the political regulation of a society. For example, in some African and Native American societies, young men may be initiated into warrior age sets that are responsible for the defense of the community. As members grow older, they transition into elder age sets that are tasked with decision-making and governance.
These sodalities can regulate politics by creating a structured progression of power and responsibility within the society. Younger members are often guided and mentored by their elders, ensuring continuity of cultural norms and political structures. Gender-based sodalities, such as men's and women's councils or secret societies, may also exist to handle specific aspects of social life, including political decision-making.
E) Pantribal Sodalities:
Pantribal sodalities, on the other hand, are associations that cut across tribal or clan lines and can unite individuals from different segments of society under a common identity or purpose. These organizations may arise in contexts where societies are fragmented into smaller kinship groups or clans, and there is a need to create broader alliances for purposes such as trade, warfare, or religious ceremonies.
Pantribal sodalities can serve as political regulators by providing a platform for intergroup negotiation, conflict resolution, and the establishment of social order beyond the confines of kinship ties. They can foster unity and cooperation among disparate groups, which is essential for maintaining stability and addressing issues that affect the larger society.
Contrasting the Two:
The primary contrast between sodalities based on age and gender and pantribal sodalities lies in their scope and basis of organization. Age and gender sodalities are typically more localized and centered around the natural progression of individuals within their own community, with a focus on internal governance and social roles. Pantribal sodalities, in contrast, are designed to operate across different communities and are often formed in response to external pressures or the need for intergroup collaboration.
While age and gender sodalities are concerned with the socialization and integration of individuals within their own society and the maintenance of internal order, pantribal sodalities are more focused on external relations and the management of intergroup dynamics. Both types of sodalities can exert significant influence on the political landscape, but they do so at different levels and with different objectives in mind.

Question 6

This chapter's "Focus on Globalization" section discusses the role of new forms of media in political manipulation. Give some examples of how new media has been used by governments for political reasons, and how new media has been used by the public to encourage political dissent.

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Question 7

This chapter's description of the Makua of Mozambique illustrates the combination of newer and more traditional characteristics of the Makua's formal political system. Give three examples of how the formal and traditional systems mix. Would the duality of the Makua system have been revealed had the analysis of this community focused only on the formal aspects of social control?

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Question 8

Discuss ways in which order is maintained in societies that lack chiefs and rulers.

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Question 9

Contrast the Inuit and Yanomami with respect to their reasons for disputes, the effectiveness of their means of resolving disputes, and how they enforce decisions about resolving disputes.

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Quiz 17: Political Systems