Lecture 10: Anthropology - Political Systems and the Maintenance of Order

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on the concepts and themes from the lecture on political systems and the maintenance of order.

Political Organization

The means a society uses to maintain order internally and manage its affairs with other societies externally.

Can be informal/uncentralized such as a Band or Tribe or formal/centralized such as Chiefdoms and States

Band

• A small group of politically independent but related households, typically found among food foragers.

• Uncentralized

• Tend to be kin groups

• Oldest for of political organization

Tribe

• A group of separate bands or villages integrated by factors such as clans or age grades.

• Uncentralized

• Herding or farming is their means of subsistence

• Each group is autonomous until the situation requires them to group together

• Leadership is informal and use oratory to persuade

Chiefdom

• A political organization with two or more local groups organized under a single individual or chief.

• Centralized

• This organization has ranked positions and typically relies on wealth, status, or power inherited by the chief. It often includes a formal redistribution of resources.

• Status is based on how closely related they are to the chief

State

• A centralized political power that regulates citizens and deals with foreign states.

• It has a structured government, defined territory, and the ability to enforce laws and collect taxes.

Power

The ability to bring about wanted results, usually through persuasion or force.

Authority

The right to take action based on an individual's status, not relying on force.

Influence

The ability to achieve a desired aim by exerting social or moral pressure.

Legitimacy

The support or recognition a political system requires to remain in existence.

Social Control

Mechanisms, informal or formal, that regulate individual behavior in society.

Consensus Decision Making

A process where decisions are made by agreement among all members, not by majority rule.

eg. Band Leadership

Bigman

A village leader in Papua New Guinea who gains power through personal merits (oratory, magic, courage, hunting, farmine and animal husbandry) and support.

Moka

• Formal feasts where gifts are exchanged, used by bigmen to gain prestige.

• Requires at least one wife as she makes the produce that will be given away

Clan

An association of people who believe they share a common ancestry.

Elders or headmen often provide leadership and mediate disputes within the clan.

Segmentary Lineage System

A system where lineage is broken down into smaller segments based on proximity to the ancestor. (similar to clans)

Leopard Skin Chief

A chief in Nuer society who aids in settling disputes but cannot enforce decisions.

He can curse the party who refuses to accept a reasonable settlement. “Your enemies spears will alwuyas find their target”

Age-Grades Organization

A system where individuals are grouped by age and pass from one grade to another.

Yoruba

• An agricultural people from Nigeria with a historically important monarchal structure.

• Women were important in the economy and yam a cocoa are the primary cash crops

Iyalode

The title for women reaching the rank of Chief of Women among the Yoruba.

Regalia was distinct to her position - necklace of special beads, specific headdress and shawl

An achieved position - ability to lead, economic resources and social influence within the community.

Confederacy

A union of several chiefdoms under a chief of chiefs.

eg. Hawaiians, Iroquois, Cherokee, Algonquins and Hurons

Iroquois Confederacy

• A confederation formed by tribes to maintain peace and cooperation.

• Warriors were not allowed to become chiefs

• Female lineage heads choose and remove the chiefs

Codified Laws

Formal rules established by a governing authority to regulate behavior.

Legal Anthropology

The study of social control and conflict resolution through laws.

Dispute Resolution

Methods used to settle conflicts, often through mediation or consensus.

Sanctions

Measures taken by society to encourage or discourage certain behaviors.

Intergroup Aggression

Conflicts that occur between families, clans, or tribes, often involving revenge.

Feuding

A prolonged conflict between groups that may last for generations.

Military Organization

The structure and management of armed forces within a state.

Civil Disobedience

Nonviolent resistance against unjust laws or government actions.

Globalization

The increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of the world.

Social Norms

Rules that govern behavior and expectations within a society.

Internal Controls

Mechanisms that regulate behavior from within individuals, like shame or guilt.

External Controls

Social sanctions or laws imposed by society to maintain order.

Public Rights

The rights of individuals that are recognized and protected by society.

Crime

A breach of social norms that affects community standards.

Tort

A civil injury or wrongdoing that leads to legal liability.

Punishment

Consequences imposed for breaking laws or social norms.

Long term detention of prisoners first appeared in the 1600’s in Europe

Mayan Law

• Legal practices in a particular civilization characterized by swift judgments and public penalties.

• There was no appeal

• Sentences were carried out in public to deter future offenders or compensate the victims

• For minor crimes a criminal’s hair was cut off as a sign of disgrace.

Negotiation

A process where two parties reach an agreement voluntarily.

Mediation

The involvement of a third party to facilitate a dispute resolution.

Adjudication

A legal process by which a dispute is resolved by an authorized third party.

Warfare

Engagement in conflict through organized military action between groups.

Social Conflict

Disputes that arise due to differences in interests or values.

Ethnic Conflict

Conflicts resulting from competition between ethnic groups for resources or rights.

Revolution

A significant shift in power or institutional frameworks, usually by violent means.

Settlement

The process of reaching an agreement to resolve a dispute.

Cultural Symbols

Elements used by groups to express identity and coherence.

Hierarchy

A structured ranking of individuals or groups based on status or authority.

Bureaucracy

A system of administration characterized by organized processes and rules.

Institutionalized Methods

Established practices to manage behavior and conflict within a society. These methods often include formalized rules, procedures, and institutions that help maintain social order.

Common Interest Associations

Groups formed around shared activities or goals within a culture.

Social Institutions

Structures that govern individual and collective behaviors in a society.

Interpersonal Conflict

Conflicts arising between individuals, often through personal disputes.

Victims' Compensation

Reparation provided to victims by offenders, which is often minimal in formal systems.

Dispute

A disagreement that arises between parties, often leading to conflict.

Civic Engagement

Participation of individuals in their communities or governance.

Cultural Customs

Established practices and behaviors recognized within a culture.

Gender Roles

Social expectations associated with an individual's sex.

Kinship

Social relationships based on familial ties and ancestry.

Rituals

Ceremonial acts performed in accordance with cultural traditions.

Collective Memory

Shared memories and experiences of a group that shape their identity.

Political Systems

Structures of governance used to maintain order and manage relationships within and between societies.

Codified Rules

Official laws recognized by a governing authority to regulate behavior. They provide a clear framework for acceptable conduct and can vary widely across different cultures and legal systems.

Leadership

The act of guiding or influencing individuals or groups toward a common goal.

Cultural Recognition

The acknowledgment of different cultural groups and their rights.

Democracy

A system of government where legitimacy is derived from the will of the people.

Laws

Rules established by authority, aiming to govern conduct in society.

Economic Resources

Assets and means of production that can be managed or utilized.

Political Authority

The sanctioned ability to make and enforce decisions within a political entity.

Autonomy

Self-governance or independence from external control.

Community Organization

The process of structuring a community to achieve common goals.

Interdependence

Mutual reliance between individuals or groups within a social structure.

Cohesion

The bonds that unite individuals or groups within a community.

Authority Figure

An individual with recognized power and influence over others.

Collective Action

Group efforts towards a common objective, particularly in a political context.

Ethics

Moral principles that govern a person's behavior in society.

Civic Responsibility

The duties and obligations of citizens toward their community.

The Nuer

A pastoralist people living in Sudan

Rely on cattle but also brow maize

Segmentary lineage syustem is used to connect all members with each other

When they meet they recite their ancestry to one another

Nation

• People who share a common language, culture, territorial base, political organization history and often a sense of shared identity.

• Can have many of these within a state.

• eg. Quebec is one within Canada

Sami

A pastoral group living in the NOrdic countries that traditionally are reindeer herders and have a distinct culture and language, contributing to their identity as an indigenous people.

Igbo

• A Niger-Congo ethnic group primarily found in Nigeria

• Women marry into villages that are full of men who are related

• “Sitting on a Man” meant that all the women would sit outside of the home of the offending husband to negotiate rights and settlements regarding marital disputes.

• Women might go on strike, refuse to cook or have sex

Law

a system of rules that governs behavior, establishes societal norms, and grants authority for enforcement, thereby maintaining social order and stability.

Early Law in Mesopatamia (1755BC)

The sun god Utu was responsible for justice

The King on earth was chief justice

Hammurabi’s code was one of the earliest written legal codes, emphasizing strict justice and retribution.

The penalties tend to be harsh

Nonviolent Conflict

A strategy used to address disputes or grievances without resorting to violence, often involving protests, strikes, or civil disobedience to promote social change.

eg. Mahatma Gandhi