Lesson 11: Political organization

political organization

defined as groups responsible for political and social cohesiveness, economic growth, and safety from internal and external threats

power

defined as the exercise of will or force in order to achieve the desired outcome

authority

which pertains to the ability to bring about result through one’s status, reputation, and degree of respect received from its constituents

legitimacy

refers to the right and acceptance of one's power and authority without the threat of exercise of force

band, tribe, chiefdoms, states

4 basic kinds of political organization

band

small group of mostly nomadic people in pursuit to ensure their survival

band leader

does not hold formal power over the band but mostly coordinates the movement such as the hunting and foraging activities of the group

tribe

a political group composed of several bands, occupying a particular territory with each having a common language and way of living

tribal leader

may vary from one tribe to another

most of the time, a leader is selected based on the numbers and strength of his following

he is expected to practice political leadership and economic management

chiefdoms

composed of allied tribes and villages under one chief which can reach up to thousands of members

chief

considered to be an office or an institution rather than just someone who leads the economic activities of the group

this makes him more permanent and makes him carry more responsibilities in maintaining his greater number of constituents

states

political organization which through the government, exercises sovereign rule over a population within a defined territory

comprised of thousands to millions of people, it has a complex social, economic and political structure

relevance

elman rogers service posited in 1962 that societies undergo various stages of social evolution.

these stages are composed of specific political organization which fit the structural and economic needs of the people