Unigt 4politicalanthropology

UNIT- IV
POLITICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION:
U
According to Redcliffe Brown , “ Political organization of a society is that aspect of the
IND
total organization which is concerned with the control and regulation of the use of
B
A
physical force ".
HIM
Types of Political Organization in primitive societies:
• Fortes and Evan-Pritchard have classified political systems into two types: stateless
and state. These two terms are synonymously used as acephalous (a Greek word for
"without a head”) society and cephalous society.
(1) Cephalous / Centralized society.
(2) Acephalous / Uncentralised society
Elman Service gives a four -fold scheme of development of human societies on the
basis of socio -economic and political -religion.
• Foragers/Hunter-gatherers: Band society
• Horticulture : tribe
• Pastoralism: Chiefdom
INDU
• Agriculture: State
IM A B
H
Out of the 4, first 3 can be considered as stateless.
ØSTATELESS SOCIETY:
• The stateless societies lack centralized authority, administrative machinery, judicial
Institution, sharp divisions of rank, status or wealth.
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• Typically these societies are small-scale, organized into bands or tribes that make
decisions through consensus decision making rather than appointing permanent
chiefs or kings.
1.BAND:
• A band society is a small, and the simplest type of socio-political organization. It
INDU
is an autonomous group of people, generally consisting of a small kin group, no
larger than an extended family or clan. In his book, The Notion of the Tribe,
IM A B
1972, Morton Fried defined bands as “small, mobile, and fluid social formations
with weak leadership that do not generate surpluses, pay taxes or support a
H f44
loosely associated with a territory on which they hunt.
PPdd f eexxaammss. o
. or gg
standing army”. Bands are made up of nuclear families that live together and are
r
• Social order is maintained through the informal mechanisms of gossip, ridicule
and avoidance - in other words through public opinion. Some historic examples
include the Shoshone of the Great Basin in the United States and the Bushmen
of Southern Africa.
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Bands occur among hunters and gatherers and nomadic tribes. All adult members
make decisions by census. Leaders are usually experienced and skilled elders.
Culprits are judged and regulated by public opinion
Eg: Eskimos where one band contains approximately 100 agnates or affines.
U
Religious head plays a role in issues like hunting, settlement, working etc.
B IND
1. Mention the characteristic features of band with suitable examples.
(2017,15M)
HIM
2. TRIBAL POLITICAL ORGANISATION: A e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
• The tribe is, of course, a larger societyPP f
tied4
f4 e
dd together by familiar bonds. Family
structures known as lineages, clan, moieties, and phratries form the primary
bonding mechanisms. The local groups that compose a traditional tribal society
are communal and strongly social, with members linked by kinship ties.
• Leadership is personal ‘charismatic ’ and for special purposes only in tribal

society; there are no political offices containing real power, and a "chief " is
merely a man of influence, a sort of adviser. Good examples of tribes are the
Yanomami of Brazil and Venezuela and the Kapauku Papuans of Indonesia .
• Clan based political organisation: Power in this kind of political organisation
vests with Clan head.
INDU
•
A B
A case study In Winnebago red Indians: This tribe contains 12 clans each
IM
H
with a specific political function. They are Thunder bird clan that provides
eexxaammss. o
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peace, warrior clan that provides war leadership, Beat clan that provides village
PPddf4
f4
and hunt police men, Buffalo clan that works as a camp carrier. Wolf and elk
clans have comparatively lesser political tasks.
• Lineage based political organisation: Eg: Horticultural Tiv tribe of Nigeria, In

this tribes the lineages( Maximal lineages) are divided in to segments called
segmentary lineages or minimal lineages. Each maximal lineage is divided in to
many minimal lineages. Members of a minimal lineage contain 3-5 generations
and consider each other as close relatives. Each minimal lineage is politically
independent.
NDU
• Age-Grade based political organisation: In African and American tribes
I
B
people of same age belong to same age grade though they belong to different
HIM
divided in to two age grades.
A
villages. Each tribe may be divided in to two or more age grades. Each age grade
is associated with specific functions. Eg: In Kipsingis tribe of Africa, men are
e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
PPddf4
f4 e
• They are Warriors who defend and enrich the tribe by increasing the progeny of
the cattle and capturing many cattle by attacks on neighbouring tribes; and Senior
elders who are the chiefs organising the army, Preside the counsel of elders to
dissolve disputes. Age grades cut across kinship and territorial lines and serve
different political functions.
• Association based political organisation: Common interest associations like secret

societies, Military clubs like Cheyenne warrior club for communal buffalo hunting.
Clubs punish offenders not to take revenge but to rehabilitate Eg: they are whipped or
their horses ears are cut etc. They operate only during hunting time.
Melanesian big man based political organisation:
• The American anthropologist Marshall Sahlins has studied the big man phenomenon.
DU
In his 1963 article "Poor Man, Rich Man, Big Man, Chief: Political Types in
IN
B
Melanesia and Polynesia", Sahlins says
H
society of chiefs
IM
Polynesian-type hierarchical
A Melanesian-type big-man system.
e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
Hierarchy f4
f4 e
Segmented
PPdd lineage groups
Leadership is ascribed status Leadership is achieved
( Hereditary) Status
Lifetime tenure Temporarily held.
Wields power Uses influence
• Throughout Melanesia, Kapauku of west Guinea, the big man is called Tonowi.
He is the rich man and a self made leader. He marries many wives and as women
maintain herds of pigs his wealth increases. By giving generously, he keeps people
under obligations. His position is neither permanent nor hereditary. His function is
not to command but influence. Acts as a negotiator with neighbouring groups.
Nuers of southern Sudan:
DU
• The Nuers have been studied by Evans-Pritchard (1940).
IN
A B
• It is uncentralised, segmentary political organisation.
IM
• H
• They are nomadic people who mainly subsist on cattle.
PPddf4
f4eex
Although they live in small local communities,xaammss. o
. orrgg
every individual has ties of
solidarity with other people scattered over an enormous territory.
• Each Nuer has obligations and commitments towards his or her patrilineal kin;
but is also tied to other groups.
• Actually, a Nuer is a member of an agnatic lineage. Several lineages together form

a sub- clan, and several sub-clans form a clan (Fusion & Fission).
• Localized disputes, theft, or homicide were mediated by individuals called kwar
(Leopard skin chiefs), whose words were effective because of their authority
rather than their overt power. He is considered as a sacred person or religious
head.
INDU
IM A
only through legitimacy with out force.B
• Chiefs could settle a dispute only once those in conflict agreed to a settlement. i.e.
3. CHIEFDOM: H PPddf4
f4eexxaammss. o
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• Chiefdoms have some formal structure integrating multi community political units
that organizes regional populations through a hierarchy of the chief(s). Chiefdom
is a form of political system or social rganization more complex than a tribe or a
band society, and less complex than a state or a civilization.
• It is a level of political integration in which a society has a more or less

permanent political leader (i.e., a chief). The chief provides direction and
authority for the society as a whole. Sometimes there is an advisory council as
well.
U
• Robert L. Carneiro defines chiefdom as "An autonomous political unit
IND
comprising a number of villages or communities under the “permanent control
B
of a paramount chief”.
HIM A e xxaammss. o
. orrg
• Chiefdoms are characterized by pervasive inequality and centralization ofg
PPddf4
f4 e
authority. At least two inherited social classes (elite and commoner) are present,
although an individual might change social class during a lifetime by
extraordinary behavior. A single lineage/family of the elite class becomes the
ruling elite of the chiefdom, with the greatest influence, power, and prestige.
• They are ruled by a paramount chief and a number of village head man. The
classic examples of chiefdom political systems are found among the Luapula
tribe lying along Luapula river between Zambia and Zaire, Tahitians of
Polynesia, Trobriand, Maori of New Zealand and the Ashanti of Ghana.
Ashanti of Ghana:
U
• Ashanti is a tribe organized among matriarchal descent groups.
IND
• The tribe is found in the long track which runs through western Africa.
B
• Each has its ancestor.M A
• There are eight matriarchal clans among the Ashantis.
HI e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
• f
In a single village, normally, there are pluralf4
4 e
PPdd matriarchal clans.
• Each matriarchal group sends its representative to the village council.
• The village council maintains law and order of the village. This is the local
government of the Ashantis.
• Out of all the Ashanti villages, a certain big village is established as the capital.
• The government found among the Ashantis is a kind of military administration.
4. STATE SOCIETY:
• A state is one of the levels of political integration in which a society has a
DU
permanent, highly centralized political organization with an elite social class of
IN
power.
IM B
rulers at the top. The bulk of the people are at the bottom of the pyramid of
A
H PPddf4
f4eexxaa mss. o
. or
• Anthropologist Robert Carneiro (1970) defines the state as "an autonomous
m rgg
political unit, encompassing many communities within its territory and having
a centralized government with the power to collect taxes, draft men for work or
war, and decree and enforce laws."
• The political organization is a very comprehensive term which essentially

includes legislative, executive and judiciary powers. In a broad way, it is called
government.
• State is the territory in which the government can practice its authority.
INDU
• The State has four elements population, territory, Government and sovereignty.
B
Government is a narrow concept and it is an element of the State.
frequently. IM A
• The State is more or less permanent but the government is temporary. It changes
H e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
• State societies have PPddf4
f4 e
Ø Large territories
Ø Administrative machinery like bureaucracy
Ø Judicial institution
Ø Military force to maintain order
Ø High degree of specialization
Ø Class stratification
Ø A system of intensive agriculture
INDU
Ø Commercial exchange and foreign trade.
IM A B
• H
• Large, dense populations. Examples: ancient Mesopotamia (ancient Iraq).
PPdd
State societies are not divided into groups f4
f4
ofeexxaamm
kinship
ss. o
. orrgg
and descent but into socio
economic classes or strata with endogamy in each strata.
• State societies are culturally heterogeneous and comprise an amalgam of
culturally diverse groups.
• State societies can be centralized or decentralized.

• Centralisation refers to retention of powers and authority with respect to
planning and decision making with top level. E.g. Kingdom
• Decentralisation refers to dissemination of authority, responsibility and
DU
accountability to various lower levels. E.g. Democratic government in India.
IN
Advantages of centralization:
•
IM A B
Efficient at pursuing high-level government goals due to the concentration of
• H
decision-making power.
PPddf4
f4eexxaammss. o
. o
Saves money because it avoids duplication within the administration.
rrgg
• Easier and faster to implement political reforms
• It favours equality and consistency across regions since, in theory, decisions are
taken considering the welfare of the whole country and not of a part of it.
• Makes more difficult the development of local clientelist networks.

•Easier to develop uniform regulation and to keep a unified single market for
business (avoid multiplication of paperwork)
Advantages of decentralization:
U
It creates checks and avoids the risks of the excessive concentration of power.
D
•
A B IN
It makes policy more responsive to regional and local needs. This may be
particularly important in ethnically divided countries.
•
•
HIM
One-fit-for all approaches to policy are not always effective. Decentralization
helps customize policies.
PPddf4
f4eexxaammss. o
. orrgg
Decentralization allows the central government to focus on strategic decision-
making, planning and coordination.
• Decentralization may trigger a healthy competition among different governments
and administrative levels which helps policy innovation.
1. Swaziland
• In this form of society there is a definite territory and the people are ruled by a
few families.
• The ruling families look after the subjects with paternal love and affection.
• Swaziland is a small state in South Africa. The people are known as Swazis,
who are a tribal group.
INDU
B
• In this tribe, there is a king who is throned according to traditional rituals. The
powers of the ruler are supreme.
HIM A
• But other family members also have their share in wielding of power.
e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
PPddf4
f4 e
• Even the military force considers the rulers to be the highest authority.
• Thus, in this society where there is government as well as a state, all the powers
are concentrated within the ruler and his family coterie.
• Coronation follows rules of heredity.
2. Differentiate between state and stateless societies. (2014,10M)

• POWER
o Max Weber , the architect of political sociology. "Power is the ability to enforce
one's own will on others' behaviour. It is the ability to make someone do
something they would otherwise not have done". Thus, according to Weber,
people have power over each other
INDU
B
o Karl Marx. The Marxists look at power as a structural phenomenon. According
Types of power:
HIM A
to them, power is found in the division of labour and class stratification.
e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
1. Legitimate power: Also called
f4
f4 e
PPdd power," it is
"positional the power of an
individual because of his position. It is usually accompanied by a uniform, a title,
or an imposing physical office. It is the power which is popularly accepted.
2. Referent power: Referent power is the power or ability of individuals to attract

others and build loyalty. It is based on the charisma and interpersonal skills.
3. Expert power: power deriving from the skills or expertise of the person and the
people’s need of those skills and expertise.
U
4. Reward power: the ability of the power wielder to confer valued material
rewards.
B IND
IM A
5. Coercive power: Coercive power is the application of negative influences. It
H
includes the ability to demote or to withhold other rewards.
e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
f4
f4 e
PPddby manipulating the people or keeping
6. Power by manipulation: Power obtained
them in false reality by doing wide propaganda.
7. Power obtained by Domination or influence
8. Direct power: Power of the person in the position
9. Indirect power: Power of the people who are related to the person in the position.
4c. How is the construct of power linked to the notion of conspicuous consumption and
its impact on distributive justice? (2020, 15M)
U
Max Weber, the architect of political sociology. "Power is the ability to enforce one's own
B IND
will on others' behaviour. It is the ability to make someone do something they would
otherwise not have done". Thus, according to Weber, people have power over each other.
of production.
IM A
In Capital, Karl Marx differentiated the classes according to their relation to the means
H e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
PPddf4
f4 e
(i) Capitalists/ bourgeoisie or owners of the means of production receiving profit;
(ii) Workers/ proletariat who are employed by owners and receive wages.
The Marxists look at power as a structural phenomenon. According to them, power is
found in the division of labour and class stratification.
Conspicuous consumption: The term coined by an American economist and

sociologist Thorstein Veblen. It is the spending of money on and the acquiring
of luxury goods and services to publicly display economic power. To the
conspicuous consumer, such a public display of discretionary economic power (It is
U
total personal income after subtracting taxes and minimal survival expenses) is a
B IND
means of either attaining or maintaining a given social status, Thus, by placing
themselves in higher strata, they can attain or retain power.
of a group.
IM A
• distributive justice is fair distribution of rewards and costs among the members
H e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
PPddf4
f4 e
Conclusion: Thus, The concept of power is constructed on the foundation of class
stratification, It leads to conspicuous consumption by the powerful higher class and
deprives the people of lower strata from distributive justice.
AUTHORITY
Authority can be defined as the institutionalized power or legitimate power.(or)
specific position in an established government,
• Authority is consent based whereas power is force based. Authority is democratic
• Authority is ability of man to get his proposals accepted but power is capacity of the
man to change the behaviour of others
DU
Weber’s Three Types of Authority
IN
IM A B
H PPddf4
f4eexxaammss. o
. orrgg
Types of Authority:
• Divine right Authority: It is a political doctrine in European history in defense
of monarchical absolutism which ascertained that kings derive their authority
from god.
• Ancestral heritage Authority: Monarchial Governments as in the case of
DU
kingdoms where the authority comes as an ascribed status.
IN
IM
personality, knowledge and riches B
• Authority of elite: Authority of a small group of individuals based on their
A
• Characteristics
Accountability
H of authority:
PPddf4
f4eex
Legitimacy,xaammss. o
. orrgg
Dominance, Rationality,
• According to Frederick, authority creates power but it is not the power by it

self.
LEGITIMACY
• According to Dahl, Legitimacy means the quality of rightness,
• De-facto government becomes De-jure on acquiring legitimacy.
• In political science, legitimacy is the popular acceptance of an authority, usually
a governing law or a régime.
INDU
IM B
• Political legitimacy is considered a basic condition for governing.
A
• British social philosopher John Locke (1632–1704) said that the government is
•
H
The American political sociologist Seymour
f4
f4eexxaamms . o
. orrgg
not legitimate unless it is carried on with the consent of the governed.“
s
PPdd Martin Lipset said that legitimacy
also "involves the capacity of a political system to engender and maintain the
belief that existing political institutions are the most appropriate and proper ones
for the society."
• The American political scientist Robert A. Dahl explained legitimacy as a

reservoir; so long as the water is at a given level, political stability is maintained,
if it falls below the required level, political stability is endangered.
Types of legitimacy: The three types of political legitimacy described by
German sociologist Max Weber
U
1. Traditional legitimacy: Derives from societal customs and traditions.
B IND
2. Charismatic legitimacy: Derives from the charisma of the leader.
IM A
3. Rational-legal legitimacy: Derives from a system of institutional procedure
H
based on public trust that the government will be legal and rational.
e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
PPddf4
f4 e
Negative and Positive legitimacy based on whether legitimacy draw on actors or
their actions, Abulof classified legitimacy in to
1. Negative political legitimacy (NPL): It is about the object of legitimation
(answering what is legitimate). Hobbes and Locke focused on NPL
2. Positive political legitimacy (PPL): It is about the source of legitimation

(answering who is the ‘legitimator’). Rousseau focused on PPL (The people as the
legitimator)
Types of legitimacy: By David Easton
NDU
• Ideological legitimacy: Derived from ideology.
I
A B
• Structural legitimacy: Derived from a particular social structure like monarchy
IM
•
or democracy etc.
H PPddf
Personal legitimacy: Derived from personal4
f4eexxaamms
charisma.
s. o
. orrgg
• Max Weber proposed that democracy was unnecessary for establishing legitimacy,
Communism, Fascism, Monarchy etc. also had legitimacy.
SOCIAL CONTROL :
• Karl Mannheim’s definition of social control: social control is the sum of
those methods by which a society tries to influence human behavior to
maintain a given order.
U
• Nature of social control:
o Social control is an influence.
B IND
HIM A
o The influence is exercised by the society.
o The influence is exercised for promoting the welfare of the group as a whole
e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
Need of Social control: PPddf4
f4 e
• To maintain old order (but it may hinder social progress).
• To establish social unity.
• To regulate or control individual human behaviour.
• To provide social sanction to breach of social ways of behaviour.

• To check cultural maladjustment when people move to the other culture especially
during the transition period.
• Obedience to social decisions.
• Means of social control: E. A. Ross described a number of means to obtain social
DU
control. They can be mainly of two types formal means and informal means.
IN
B
Informal means:
IM
from doing unwanted things) A
• Belief (Belief in god works as a means of social control preventing people
H e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
• Social suggestions (Ideal f4
f
humansPPdlike4 e
d rama, Literature,
Educational
curriculum including biographies, mythological stories and advertisement
E.g. regarding population control, traffic rules etc. )
• Ideologies : Eg: Varnashram, Karma theory, rebirth etc
• Folk ways : Habits of individuals common to a group. They are the foundation of
group culture. They will be followed unconsciously.
• Mores: E.g: Monogamy, Endogamy. Mores are the folk ways that are considered
by a group to be of great significance.
DU
• Customs: Folk ways and more that have persisted for a long time are called
IN
B
customs.
IM A
• Religion : Religion is an attitude towards super natural power Eg: Superstition,
H e xxaa mss. o
. orrgg
Animism, totemism, ritualism and magic. These beliefs work as a very efficient
m
means of social control. PPddf4
f4 e
• Art and literature: Teach people the norms and values that create control in the
society songs or paintings on ideal humans etc.
• Humours, Satire and cartoons indirectly suggest the values, ethics and norms
helping in establishing the social control.
• Formal means : Law, Education, Coercion (use of force to achieve social
control), Violence (Social control by punishing with injury, imprisonment and
INDU
death penalty), Non violence: Strike, Boycott and non cooperation.
IM A B
Karl Mannheim categorized social control as
H
1. Direct social control: Family, kin group, neighborhood etc
x aammss. o
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PPddf4
2. Indirect social control: Customs, traditions
f4ee
etcx
Kimball Young classified Social control as
1. Positive social control: By reward appreciation etc
2. Negative social control: By fear of punishment
Cooley classified social control into

• conscious social control and
• unconscious social control.
Hayes Classified social control in to
U
1. Control by sanction
2. Control by socialization and education
B IND
IM
Agencies of social control:
H A e xxaa mss. o
. orrgg
• Social institutions like family, kinship, Economy, political, religion etc.
m
P
P d
d f4
f4 e
3. Discuss different social control mechanisms in simple societies.
(2016,15M)
• Note: Can also write about political organizations and customary law as
they work to achieve social control.
LAW AND JUSTICE IN SIMPLE SOCIETIES:

4. How does customary law function in tribal society? Discuss its different
sources. ( 2018, 15M )
5. Discuss the nature of Law and Justice in simple societies citing suitable
U
examples. (2014, 20M)
B IND
• Customary law: The rules, practices and customs of indigenous & local
HI A
communities which are an intrinsic and central part of the way of life of these
M
communities. Customary laws are embedded in the culture of a society. They
x aammss. o
. orrgg
govern their behavior and are actively practiced by all members of the society.
e x
PPddf4
f4 e
Nature of Customary law (or) primitive law:
Ø Customary laws are not mentioned in any book, they are transmitted through oral
tradition, therefore it is difficult to know all customs of a land.
Ø Primitive law is governed by kinship ties.

Ø Primitive law is based on moral principles and public opinion.
U
Ø The oath and ordeals are main mode of evidence in primitive law.
IND
Ø Punishment is awarded in the shape of fine, compensation,
B
A
excommunication, isolation, communal feast etc.
HIM
Ø Breach of law is taken as to affect not only to an individual but also to
the whole tribal society.
PPddf4
f4eexxaammss. o
. orrgg
Difference between customary (primitive) & modern law:
Character Customary law Modern law
U
Planning and legislation Do not exist Exist
Importance to Ethics norms and
B IND Exist Do not exist
public opinion
HIM A
Civil and criminal law differentiation Do not exist
e xxaammss. o
. orrggExist
PPddf4
f4 e
Importance to sin and supernatural Exist Donot exist
power
Importance to the intention behind Do not exist Exist

committing a crime
Collective responsibility Exist Do not exist
Grades of punishment Do not exist Exist
Imprisonment Do not exist Exist
Police force and court of law
INDU Do not exist Exist
B
Administration of the law is based on kinship ties Territories
HIM A
E.g. Among khasi, the wealth is two types.
e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
PPddf4
f4 e
1. Hereditary/ancestral (Nongtymmen): Only Khatduh the youngest daughter
inherits this property from the mother.
2. Non hereditary (Nongmei-nongpa) : Distributed among the siblings.
Khasi men are unhappy with this customary law.
“ Syngkhong Rympei thymmai” is a group fighting against the matrilineal
system and particularly this practice.
• Law: A social norm whose violation beyond permissible limitations evokes

a formal procedural response initiated by a group that possesses the socially
recognized privilege right determining guilt and imposing sanction up on
the wrong doer.
INDU
• Justice: The quality of righteousness or equitable ness.
IM B
• Law and custom: Primitive law cannot be considered apart from the
A
totality of the customary rules governing human behaviour. Law is a make,
•
H
custom is a growth.
f4
f4eexxaammss. o
. orrg
PPdd and custom does not.
Law needs a special agency for enforcement
g
• Law is specific customs are not specific.
• Law is flexible, it can be made amended abolished etc. but not the custom.
• Customs fade and disappear with out formal abolition and with out recognition by
any authority but law disappear only when abolished by a recognised authority.
• Law is more idealistic than custom
• Law generally deals with matters which are vital to the life of the society where
as customs deals with general way of life
INDU
• Both law and custom supplement and complement with each other. That is law
A B
plays a role in achieving social control in the situations where the custom cannot
IM
H
work and vice versa.
x aammss. o
. orrgg
• Custom is an important source of PPdd
law. f4
f4ee
That x is law is made based on the
customary rules of the society.
• Customs facilitate the practice of law.
• In modern societies customs cannot guide line the human conduct Eg:
Untouchability, Dowry, Satisahagamanam, child marriage, Female infanticide and
foeticide
• Customs lack an authority
• Customs cannot be amended to the changing conditions
NDU
• Uniform rules cannot be made as different societies follow different customs.
I
A B
• The purpose of law is to maintain social order and achieve justice, whereas
IM
H
customs may not achieve social justice.
x aammss. o
. orrgg
PPddf4
f4ee x
Sources of law:
Primary sources/ Customs:
Customs without sanctions
U
Customs with sanctions
B IND
Conventional customs
HIM
Legal customs A e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
PPddf4
f4 e
Local custom
General customs
• Legal customs are strict rules meant to be followed by everyone, recognized by

the court and are made a part of law.
• Conventional customs are the established usages.
• For the conventional customs to be legal customs, they must be
U
Ø Immemorial
Ø Certain
B IND
Ø Reasonable
Ø Compulsory
HIM A e xxaammss. o
. orrgg
Ø Moral
PPddf4
f4 e
Ø Having unanimity of opinion
Ø Consistent with other customs
Secondary sources: Scientific, rational and ideological reasons.
• Note: Sanction= penalty for disobeying a rule.
DU
4. Political organization and Social Control: Band, tribe, chiefdom,
IN
M B
kingdom and state; concepts of power, authority and legitimacy; social
A
control, law and justice in simple societies.
I
H PPddf4
f4eexxaammss. o
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Unigt 4politicalanthropology

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Unigt 4politicalanthropology

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UNIT- IV

• Leadership is personal ‘charismatic ’ and for special purposes only in tribal

• Lineage based political organisation: Eg: Horticultural Tiv tribe of Nigeria, In

• Association based political organisation: Common interest associations like secret

• Actually, a Nuer is a member of an agnatic lineage. Several lineages together form

• It is a level of political integration in which a society has a more or less

• The political organization is a very comprehensive term which essentially

• State societies can be centralized or decentralized.

• Makes more difficult the development of local clientelist networks.

2. Differentiate between state and stateless societies. (2014,10M)

2. Referent power: Referent power is the power or ability of individuals to attract

7. Power obtained by Domination or influence

8. Direct power: Power of the person in the position

Conspicuous consumption: The term coined by an American economist and

• According to Frederick, authority creates power but it is not the power by it

• The American political scientist Robert A. Dahl explained legitimacy as a

2. Positive political legitimacy (PPL): It is about the source of legitimation

• To provide social sanction to breach of social ways of behaviour.

Cooley classified social control into

LAW AND JUSTICE IN SIMPLE SOCIETIES:

Ø Primitive law is governed by kinship ties.

Difference between customary (primitive) & modern law:

Character Customary law Modern law

Importance to the intention behind Do not exist Exist

INDU Do not exist Exist

• Law: A social norm whose violation beyond permissible limitations evokes

Customs without sanctions

• Legal customs are strict rules meant to be followed by everyone, recognized by

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