UCSP: Political Organization / Authority and Legitimacy
What are the different noteworthy facts?
People/Event/ Ideas/Words/Phrases
Places
BAND Typically compact, comprising multiple
cohabiting families, this group relocates
in pursuit of sustenance. The equality of
all families is a defining feature, though
distinctions based on gender and age are
clearly delineated.
TRIBE (TRIBU) Beyond the scale of a band, tribes are
characterized by a diverse range of
lifestyles, having evolved beyond mere
survival for sustenance. These
communities have adapted to various
ways of living, extending beyond the
basic necessities of food acquisition.
Tribes consist of multiple communities,
and despite their larger size, many tribes
uphold an egalitarian ethos, where
equality among members is a prevailing
principle.
CHIEFDOM As societies progress, a more intricate
political organization emerges, featuring
a Chief as a relatively permanent, full-
time leader vested with genuine authority
to make significant decisions.
In certain cases, multiple communities
are governed by a permanent paramount
chief, possessing supreme power, often
belonging to an elite family. This power is
typically inherited, establishing a
hereditary system where leadership is
passed down through familial lines.
The political structure may take the form
of a Simple Chiefdom, where a single
community is governed by a specific
family, or a Complex Chiefdom, where
several simple chiefdoms fall under the
Why are they noteworthy?
Due to the egalitarian
nature of bands, where all
families are considered
equal, formal leadership
structures are absent.
Instead, individuals with
specific skills and
knowledge may assume
informal leadership roles.
As the population within the
tribe grows, the necessity
for organizational structures
becomes apparent. This
has led to the emergence of
councils, tribal leaders, and
elders, particularly in
response to the existence
of multiple communities. To
fulfill leadership roles, a
Village Headman is
appointed, although their
political authority is
constrained, ensuring that
the prevailing ethos within
the tribe largely maintains
egalitarian principles.
In contrast to bands and
tribes, chiefdoms exhibit a
more structured leadership
model with a formal leader
who possesses tangible
authority to make decisions
for the community. Within
chiefdoms, authority is
inherited, allowing a chief
from an elite family to pass
down their power to their
successor.
At the apex of the chiefdom
hierarchy is the Paramount
Chief, the highest and most
powerful figure. This implies
that all the simple
chiefdoms governing
 jurisdiction of a single paramount chief,
creating a hierarchical system within the
larger societal framework.
NATIONS The concept of ethnicity is rooted in
cultural elements, emphasizing factors
such as history, language, traditions,
customs, and habits. When examining
ethnicity from a cultural perspective, the
focus is on shared cultural traits and
characteristics that bind a group together.
This viewpoint avoids delving into the
political aspects and concentrates solely
on the cultural dimensions that define
and distinguish one ethnic group from
another.
STATE The highest form of political organization
is the state, characterized by a political
unit with a government exercising
sovereignty, which is the supreme
authority, over a specific group of people
within a well-defined territory. The
fundamental elements of a state include
government, sovereignty, people, and
territory.
The people hold a crucial role in the
concept of a state, as they form the
citizenry and contribute to the collective
identity and functioning of the political
entity. Internal sovereignty refers to the
state's ability to enact and enforce laws
within its borders, maintaining order and
governance. External sovereignty, on the
other hand, pertains to the state's
independence and freedom from external
control, allowing it to engage in
international relations and affairs without
undue interference.
AUTHORITY Right to command
individual communities are
ultimately subject to the
overarching authority of the
supreme paramount chief.
The significance of a nation
lies not primarily in its
political framework but
rather in the shared cultural
concepts that unite its
people. The emphasis is
placed on cultural
commonalities such as
history, language,
traditions, customs, and
habits, highlighting the
cultural cohesion that binds
the nation together. In this
perspective, the essence of
the nation is derived from
its cultural identity rather
than its political structure.
Compared to a nation, a
state is more formal and
focused on politics. A state
must have a government,
sovereignty, people, and
territory; if any of these is
missing, it's not considered
a state. Sovereignty means
the government has the
power to make and enforce
laws independently, without
being controlled by another
country.
Evident when one person
can direct or command
another individual. It holds
significance because it is
the key factor in maintaining
organization.
LEGITIMACY “Value whereby something or someone is It reflects the recognition
recognized and accepted as right and and acceptance of
proper” something or someone as
being right and proper. It
highlights the importance of
acknowledgment and
approval within a certain
context or society,
indicating a shared
understanding of what is
considered appropriate or
correct. This recognition of
value contributes to the
establishment of standards,
norms, and cultural or
social expectations. It plays
a crucial role in shaping
attitudes, behaviors, and
the overall fabric of a
community or group.

Weber’s Three Types of Authority

TRADITIONAL SOURCE OF POWER: Traditional type of authority

Legitimized from well-established
customs, habits, and social
structures
LEADERSHIP STYLE:
Historic personality
EXAMPLE:
Monarchical rule, or rule of the
elites in a chiefdom
appoints or chooses their
leader based on its family.
Similar to chiefdom, their
chiefs are chosen from elite
families, and their authority
is passed on to their heirs.

CHARISMATIC SOURCE OF POWER: Charismatic type of

Legitimized from the charisma of authority is based on an
the individual individual's charisma.
LEADERSHIP STYLE: People choose an individual
Dynamic personality that is oftentimes popular,
EXAMPLE: or has an impact on others
Religious leaders, or popular lives, regardless of their
icons leadership skills.

LEGAL- SOURCE OF POWER: In this type of authority, the

RATIONAL Legitimized from formal rules origin of their power comes
(bureaucratic) promulgated by the state from formal rules that are
LEADERSHIP STYLE: promoted by the state
Bureaucratic through its laws.
EXAMPLE: Most of the important
Government officials in modern decisions are taken by the
states STATE OFFICIALS, rather
than by elected
representatives.
 The Israel-Palestine Conflict

What are the different noteworthy facts? Why are they noteworthy?

PEOPLE/ IDEAS/WORDS/
PLACES/ PHRASES
EVENTS

JERUSALEM A sacred place or Holy City Jerusalem is considered a sacred

for both Islam, Judaism, place and a Holy City in Islam,
and Christianity. Judaism, and Christianity. It holds
religious significance for Muslims,
Jews, and Christians, with each
faith considering it as a central
and revered location tied to their
respective religious histories and
beliefs. The Dome of the Rock
and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are
significant in Islam, while the
Western Wall is important in
Judaism, and the Church of the
Holy Sepulchre is a key site in
Christianity. The shared
connection to Jerusalem makes it
a unique and deeply meaningful
city for these three major world
religions.

PALESTINE Made up of mostly Muslims Palestine is a region with a

predominantly Muslim population.
Islam is the major religion in the
area, and a significant majority of
the Palestinian population
adheres to the Islamic faith.
However, it's essential to note
that Palestine is also home to
diverse religious and ethnic
communities, including Christians
and various Arab and non-Arab
groups. The religious and cultural
landscape of the region is
complex, reflecting a rich history
of diverse influences.

ZIONISM Jews should unite and The idea that Jews should come
create their own nation in together and establish their own
their historic homeland — nation in their historical
Jerusalem homeland, particularly in

Founder: Theodor Herzl
Jerusalem, is associated with the
concept of Zionism. Theodor
Herzl, often considered the
founder of modern political
Zionism, advocated for the
establishment of a Jewish
homeland as a response to anti-
Semitism and as a way to ensure
the security and collective identity
of the Jewish people. This vision
eventually played a significant
role in the establishment of the
State of Israel in 1948. The
connection to Jerusalem holds
particular significance for its
historical and religious
importance in Judaism.

BRITISH In 1914, there was a The British played a significant

promise of Arab role in the history of the
independence made to the Palestine-Israel conflict. The
Sheriff of Mecca if they Balfour Declaration, expressing
rebelled against the support for a Jewish national
Ottoman Empire. home in Palestine, gave hope to
the Jews, even though those
In 1916, British officials making the promise did not
made an agreement with reside in Palestine.
the French, promising to
divide Palestine between During the British Mandate, the
them after World War I. Jewish population in Palestine
increased, leading to tensions
In 1917, Arthur Balfour, the between Jews and Arabs, with
British Foreign Secretary, both sides committing crimes. In
publicly declared the an attempt to address the
Balfour Declaration. This escalating conflict, the British
proclamation expressed limited Jewish immigration, but
Britain's intention to this move sparked protests in
establish a national home Israel. Additionally, Zionist
for Jews in Palestine. militant groups carried out acts of
violence in response to these
restrictions. The actions taken by
the British during this period
contributed to the complex
dynamics that fueled the later
stages of the conflict.

UNITED Exhausted from managing In the process of dividing the

NATIONS the conflict, the British land, the partition plan allocated
handed the responsibility more than half of the territory to
to the newly established Israel, including a significant
 United Nations (UN) to find
a solution. The UN
proposed a partition plan to
address the competing
claims of Jews and Arabs
in the region.
ISRAEL Before the declaration of
INDEPENDENCE Israel's independence,
extremist Zionist militias
compelled many
Palestinians to leave their
homes. In 1948, on the day
of Israel's declaration of
independence, Arab
nations declared war
against Israel, which
resulted in Israel winning
the war and gaining
additional territory.
Following the conflict, the
remaining areas for
Palestine were limited to
the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip. This historical
context underscores the
complex and contentious
nature of the events
leading to the
establishment of Israel and
the subsequent
displacement of
Palestinians.
SIX-DAY WAR In 1967, Israel captured
the Gaza Strip, the West
Bank, the Egyptian Sinai
Peninsula, and the Golan
Heights of Syria during the
Six-Day War.
Following the conflict,
Egypt made a contractual
agreement with Israel to
regain control of the Sinai
Peninsula.
With Gaza and the West
Bank now under Israeli
portion of fertile land. This
distribution left many Arabs
dissatisfied with the outcome.
The unequal division of land
contributed to heightened
tensions and further complexities
in the Palestine-Israel conflict.
Indeed, even before Israel
declared its independence, there
were instances where
Palestinians were forced to leave
their homes, resulting in many
becoming stateless refugees.
On the day Israel celebrated its
independence, the festivities
were disrupted by the surprise
declaration of war by Arab
nations.
In response to the events, the
Palestinian Liberation
Organization (PLO) made a
commitment to reclaim the land
they had lost. This marked the
beginning of a prolonged and
complex struggle over territory
and the rights of displaced
Palestinians.
As Israelis deliberated on the fate
of the people in Gaza and the
West Bank, some Israeli settlers,
without government permission,
moved to the West Bank and
established their lives. This act
was considered illegal.
To address the issue, the UN
proposed dividing the land into
three parts, but despite these
efforts, the Palestinian territory
continued to diminish,
contributing to the ongoing
challenges and tensions in the
control, there were region.
decisions to be made
regarding the Arab
population in those areas.
The fate and status of the
Palestinian population in
the occupied territories
became a central issue in
the ongoing complexities of
the Israel-Palestine
conflict.