Question 1

One key distinction that anthropologists have observed in the structure of a tribe is that the tribal leaders do NOT build and maintain power through

Accepted Answer

Anthropologists have observed that tribal leaders do not build and maintain power through political institutions. Tribal societies tend to be less hierarchical and less centralized than state societies. Tribal leaders generally derive their power and authority from their personal qualities, such as wisdom, courage, generosity, and charisma, rather than from formal positions or institutional structures. It is also common for tribal leaders to be replaced periodically, often through a process of consensus-building among the members of the tribe, rather than through force or inheritance.

Question 2

The economically efficient strategy of cooperative gathering,coordinated hunting,and reciprocal sharing of resources while resisting hierarchy and domination that sustained human beings through most of our existence is a strategy that strongly values

Accepted Answer

The economically efficient strategy described here values equality, as members resist hierarchy and domination and engage in reciprocal sharing of resources. While communalism and consensus are also important aspects of this strategy, they are not emphasized to the same degree as the value of equality. Diversity is not necessarily emphasized in this scenario, as cooperation and coordination are key to survival.

Question 3

The political structure of all modern countries includes a central government that ideally exercises complete political,military,and economic control of its territory and functions as a

Accepted Answer

A state is a political entity that exercises absolute control over a defined territory, which includes political, military, and economic power. While the terms country and nation are often used synonymously with state, they do not necessarily imply the same level of political control. A tribe is a social group that typically lacks the centralized political authority and structured territorial control of a state.

Question 4

The Maasai,who live outside the direct control of the government of Tanzania and have had to form their own nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)and other political organizations to fight against the government's efforts to act as though they did not exist,might today be known as

Accepted Answer

The Maasai are considered an ethnic group because they share a common culture, language, and identity, and they have organized themselves to advocate for their rights and interests. They are not autonomous states, bands, or chiefdoms.

Question 5

An autonomous regional political structure with a central government authorized to make laws and use political,economic,and military force to maintain order and defend its territory is referred to as a

Accepted Answer

A state is a political unit with a centralized government that exercises power over a specific territory and population. It has the authority to make laws, enforce them, and defend its borders through military force if necessary. The other options do not have a centralized government or the same level of political or military power over their territories. A group refers to a collection of people who have come together for a specific purpose, a band is a small, egalitarian society, and a chiefdom has a centralized leadership but is not as large or complex as a state.

Question 6

The development and organization of states such as Iraq through the colonial policies of Britain and France rather than the "will of the people" that live in those states creates many conflicts today.This makes these states the focus of

Accepted Answer

The answer of The development and organization of states such...

Question 7

Early states played an important role in the development of most areas of the world,so their origin,construction,and organization are the focus of modern

Accepted Answer

The origin, construction, and organization of early states are within the scope of political anthropology, which studies the relationship between politics and culture. Social history focuses on social structures and changes, while political science focuses on the mechanics of government and politics. Cultural anthropology studies cultural diversity and global patterns of thought and behavior. Therefore, the best choice is political anthropology (option C).

Question 8

From its inception,the modern state of Germany has existed in many forms.The hundreds of German principalities were formerly united in 1871 into Germany until 1918.After defeat in World War I,Germany's government was known as the Weimar Republic until the Nazis came to power in 1933.With the defeat of Nazi Germany,the country was divided into East and West during the cold war,and finally reunited when the Soviet Union collapsed.This demonstrates what specific characteristic of a state?

Accepted Answer

This demonstrates that the characteristic of a state is that it can exist in many different forms and can be uniquely constructed based on historical and political circumstances. Germany's statehood has gone through various transformations and constructions throughout its history, from hundreds of principalities to a unified Germany, to a divided Germany during the Cold War, and finally to a reunited Germany after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Question 9

Hunting and gathering peoples developed a successful adaptation that promoted generosity,altruism,and sharing while resisting upstarts,aggression,and egoism,something that could only be sustained through

Accepted Answer

Hunting and gathering societies were typically egalitarian, meaning that social status was minimal and resources were shared among the group. This encouraged generosity, altruism, and sharing as individuals worked together to ensure the survival of the group. Hierarchical societies, on the other hand, tend to promote egoism and aggression as individuals compete for power and resources. Therefore, the successful adaptation of hunting and gathering societies depended on their emphasis on egalitarianism.

Question 10

The author notes that the image of the state as fixed,cohesive,and coherent is an illusion,and through the interactions between the state and its members-individuals,communities,institutions,and so forth-each state is constructed

Accepted Answer

The author notes that each state is constructed uniquely through interactions with its members, which suggests that the image of the state as fixed, cohesive, and coherent is an illusion. Therefore, choice A, which implies that each state is constructed uniquely, is the best answer. Choices B, C, and D do not accurately reflect the author's argument.

Question 11

The ability or potential to bring about change through action or influence is referred to as power,something that is

Accepted Answer

Power is embedded in all human relationships, regardless of whether it is formal or informal, public or private. It can be exercised by individuals, groups, and institutions, and may take many different forms. Therefore, Option D is the correct answer. Option A is partially correct, as power is found in some human relationships, but this is not an exhaustive account. Option B is incorrect because the state is not the only entity that exercises power. Option C is incorrect because anthropologists study power in all its forms, not just when it is public, dramatic, and violent.

Question 12

The precursor to the complex political organization we now call the state is the

Accepted Answer

The chiefdom is the precursor to the state as it includes a centralized leadership and a more complex social hierarchy than a band or tribe, but is not as formalized as a state. Ethnic group is not a precursor to political organization, as it refers to a shared cultural identity.

Question 13

Foragers move over a particular territory and form small,kin-based groups that constantly break up and reform in response to conflicts,and are a form of highly decentralized

Accepted Answer

Foragers typically form small, kin-based groups called bands. These groups move over a particular territory and are highly decentralized, constantly breaking up and reforming in response to conflicts. Chiefdoms and tribes are more complex and hierarchical forms of social organization, while movements do not necessarily have a fixed territory or kin-based structure.

Question 14

Our own experiences with the state through encounters with institutions such as the police or airport customs lend credence to the idea of the state as a collection of institutions and structures,but as political anthropologists,we can understand the state as

Accepted Answer

As political anthropologists, we understand the state as a system of processes rather than a group of officials, an autonomous center of power, or the ultimate authority in a specific territory or region. The state is not just a set of institutions but a dynamic set of processes and practices that constitute social and political order. Therefore, the best choice is B, a system of processes.

Question 15

An autonomous political unit composed of a number of villages or communities under the permanent control of a paramount chief is referred to as a

Accepted Answer

The term "chiefdom" specifically describes an autonomous political unit that is controlled by a paramount chief and is composed of multiple villages or communities. While tribes and bands may also have chiefs or leaders, they do not necessarily have the same level of centralized control and governance as a chiefdom. A group is a very general term and does not necessarily imply any specific type of political organization.

Question 16

Groups that were originally viewed as a culturally distinct multiband population that imagined itself as one people descended from a common ancestor,and are currently described as an indigenous group with its own set of loyalties and leaders living to some extent outside the control of a centralized authoritative state,are known as

Accepted Answer

The description matches the definition of a tribe, which is a culturally distinct group with a shared ancestry and some degree of autonomy from centralized authority.

Question 17

A small,kinship-based group of foragers who move over a particular territory is known as a

Accepted Answer

A small, kinship-based group of foragers who move over a particular territory is known as a band. This type of group is typically egalitarian and has no formal leadership or centralized organization.

Question 18

In the modern world,while the state is considered the ultimate authority in any particular territory,the author notes that they are

Accepted Answer

The author notes that states are "fluid and fragile," meaning that they are not fixed or cohesive, but rather are constantly changing and adapting to new circumstances.

Question 19

Earlier anthropological analysis considered small-scale human groups in comparative isolation.Today,however,it is clear that bands,tribes,and chiefdoms must all function

Accepted Answer

Today, small-scale human groups like bands, tribes, and chiefdoms cannot function as autonomous groups or solely at the behest of the state. They invariably operate within the influence of the state, which shapes their relationships and interactions with other groups. Therefore, the best choice is D, which acknowledges the importance of the state in shaping the dynamics of small-scale societies.

Question 20

Micronesia's traditional political system of matrilineal clans headed by chiefs and dispersed across many islands separated by hundreds of miles allows them to readily recover from disastrous situations.Despite the distance,Micronesians are all members of different

Accepted Answer

Micronesia's traditional political system is based on matrilineal clans headed by chiefs, which are dispersed across many islands. Therefore, they are organized into different chiefdoms, making option D the best choice. Option A is incorrect because the term "tribe" is not commonly used to describe Micronesia's traditional political structure. Option B is incorrect because Micronesia is not a state but a region of small islands in the Pacific Ocean. Option C is incorrect because Micronesians are closely related culturally, and there are no significant ethnic differences among them.

Quiz 12: Politics and Power