Political Systems notes and Homework

 

Political Systems                                                            Name ___________________

Politics is defined as competition for power over people and things.  Small-scale societies have unexpected and unfamiliar forms of political systems.

What kinds of roles and offices are expected of individuals in politics?

• Make decisions concerning the group as a whole
• Lead community discussions and act as spokesmen with outsiders
• Control others by persuasion or by controlling the means of violence with police or law.
• Define goals of society and public policy
• Allow control of and access to resources
• Many are expected to bankrupt themselves for the benefit of society, thereby increasing status, influence and power.  (Ex.  “Big Men” of New Guinea)
• In the western world, examples are the President, prime ministers, governors and legislators.  In these cases, the offices of power always exist, they are held by different individuals over time and remain even after individuals have left.  Large bureaucracies have many offices and a chain of command.  Ex. In small societies, the hunt leader is only the leader as long as the hunt lasts.

How are political positions obtained?

• Inheritance through kinship ties
• Elections
• Personal achievement
• Appointment from a higher authority
• Coercion, bribes, promises of future rewards
• Seized illegally and or brutally

What strategy is used by leaders of political parties to unite followers?  (Political parties are made up of like minded individuals)

Symbols –

Rallying cry, slogan, hated race, national flag

Hoover – A chicken in every pot, a car in every garage

Obama – Yes We Can and “Hope” poster by Shepard Fairey

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_slogans#U.S._presidential_campaign_slogans_.28listed_chronologically.29

Leadership can be classified into

Bands

Tribes

Chiefdoms

States

Based on increasing complexity of leadership roles

Bands

Self-sufficient pedestrian foragers (hunter-gatherers)

No more than 12-24 members

There is no conclusive leadership position

Leaders are chosen by skill or age

Decisions arrived at by consensus

Conflicts are resolved by moving away

Women have more power, because they provide most of the food calories consumed.

Ex.  Native Americans did not make the kind of binding legal agreements with settlers because not all members of the band agreed and those who did not agree, did not have to abide with the rules of the treaty.

Tribes

Groups number in the 100’s.

Kinship ties and friendship alone are not sufficient ties to bind members together.

Representatives from bands or families will meet as a group (or live together) to make decisions for the group as a whole.

Ex. Big Man, Kwakiutl men

Like bands, tribal societies are egalitarian and no one is politically or economically superior.  All families are alike and self sufficient… just larger groups.

Conflicts are resolved by discussion or rivalries, raiding, etc.

Chiefdoms

Populations more than 1000.

Mostly classless societies.

Have a permanent full time leader with real authority to make major decisions for society

Sometimes an advisory council exists, but there is no bureaucracy.

Seniority in kin groups is basis for status and records of descent are kept.

Chiefs and families have a higher standard of living.

Food and wealth are redistributed, but some is held back for the chief and family

Larger populations – Less in common – need chief to be arbitrator/judge

Chiefdoms are more effective in warfare

1.  Larger population – larger military

2.  Chief provides centralized direction and decisive action.

States

Populations more than 10,000

Large scale intensive agriculture

Authoritarian kingdoms

Socially stratified into classes based on wealth, power, and prestige

5500 YA à Egypt, Mesopotamia (Iraq), India, China

4500 YA à Mayas, Aztecs, Andes (Incas)

Always similar politically (Ruling elite – Craftsmen, traders, bureaucrats – farmers, commoners) in a triangle.

Centralized authority and large armies allowed large scale warfare to swallow weaker cities and huge empires developed with millions of people.

God kings not uncommon with absolute authority and commoners had no influence.

Slavery exists and was common.

People gave up Bands as agriculture became necessary.

Nation states are marked by social, political, and economic inequality.  Social mobility is now easier, but the pyramid always seems to exist.  Far larger permanent bureaucracies.

Homework

Define

Band

Tribe

Chiefdom

State

Bureaucracy

Consensus

           

Bureaucracy

Authoritarian

Political Symbols

April 25, 2012 GREEF Social Institutions

G - Government
R - Religion
E - Economy
E - Education
F- Family

These are the five social institutions necessary to the survival of a society at any level.

Homework
Fill out the two worksheets labeled Lesson 21 The Social Institutions for homework credit.  We have already discussed Economy and will discuss Government next.  I expect you to remember the acronym and the institutions associated with each letter.

April 23, 2012

In class today, we reviewed Subsistence Patterns and completed a series of questions on Economic Systems. The homework will be posted on the board and can also be found here.

Homework "Economic Systems" will be graded and counted as a quiz.

Economic Systems - homework

 

Homework  - Economic Systems         Name _________________________

1.  What do the people of market economies use as a means of exchange and why?

2.  List and describe the two types of money used in market and non-market economies.  Give two examples of each.

3.  Describe the three systems of exchange in non-market economies.

4.  What is the definition of reciprocity?

5.  Name, describe and give three examples of Gift exchanges.

6.  Define redistributive exchanges.

7.  Give two examples of redistributive exchanges.

Economic Systems

 

8.  Economic Systems                                                Name ___________________

Systems of Distribution and Exchange

Subsistence Patterns are the ways in which food and other necessities are produced.

Distribution and Exchange Systems are the ways in which goods and services are distributed or passed out by a society to its people. 

MARKET ECONOMIES

Market Economies are large scale societies that have impersonal but highly efficient systems of distribution.

Use of MONEY as a means of exchange

Ability to accumulate vast amounts of wealth (capital)

Complex economic interactions that are international in scope

            Ex.  Buying a loaf of bread in the store

Two Types of Money

General Purpose money is portable, arbitrarily valued medium of exchange.  All market economies use this form of money. (Coins, paper, checks, debits, credit cards)

Special Purpose Money consists of objects that are a medium of exchange in only limited contexts (brass rods, cattle and other livestock)  If you put General Purpose money in the mix, it messes everything up!

NON-MARKET ECONOMIES

• Exist in self-sufficient societies (foraging, pastoralist, horticultural)
• People are concerned with daily and seasonal food supply b/c long term storage is out of the question.
• Tasks are shared and worked on face-to-face basis with close neighbors or kin.
• Individual contribution to society is not calculated and social pressure obligates individuals to share freely, to redistribute surplus.  (economic leveling, don’t be a mooch)
• Incentive to work is for subsistence, friendship, demonstrate skills, and social prestige

Barter is trading goods and services directly for other goods and services without money.  Societies and individuals must communicate face-to-face

Dumb-Barter is used when communities are frightened of or hostile towards each other but still want to trade.

Gift-Giving is a distribution of wealth within a society forced by public opinion and a desire for political power and influence.  Status is gained by generosity and showing social skills.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXCHANGE

• There are two components of gifting, purchasing, selling and trade.
• Pure economic gain  and  Social gain
• Both are obtained at the same time in non-market economies, but usually, social gain is sacrificed for economic gain in market economies.
• Items used for exchange in non-market economies are food, manufactured items, courtesies, entertainments, curing, military assistance, women and children.

Gift Exchanges

Reciprocity – is defined as a continuing sequence of giving and receiving that results in a circulation of goods and services through a society.  If you receive a gift, you are obliged to repay with another gift.  There are three types of reciprocity.

1.  Generalized reciprocity – Gift giving without the expectation of an immediate return.  (Ex. Buying coffee for a friend at a coffee shop… the expectation being that you’ll be treated at a later time.)

2.  Balanced reciprocity – An explicit expectation of immediate return (Barter, purchase or Xmas)

3.  Negative reciprocity – an attempt to get something someone may not want to give up by offering something more valuable in return.  (Selling a car at a lower price in desperation, city street food, respect to a boss to get a promotion)

Redistributive Exchanges

Are economic leveling mechanisms

Western World – Charity and progressive income tax in return for social recognition and/or tax advantages and relieved social conscience.

Non-Western World – Potlatch, Kula exchange, a Don Corleone Gift

http://anthro.palomar.edu/economy/econ_3.htm (bottom of pg for Kula Rings)

Potlatch is an elaborate and deliberate acquisition of wealth and then a gigantic “gift feast” designed to enhance the status of the giver.

Kwakiutl – Potlatches were important social gatherings held to celebrate major life events and were comprised of competitive feasting, speechmaking and gift-giving.  The host would even destroy money and other valuables to show how willing he was to bankrupt himself to gain status.

To accept the gifts increased the hosts’ status and place the guests in debt until they could reciprocate at a greater level so as to not lose their status.

The Canadian government outlawed potlatches for a time thinking that it bankrupted the society, but eventually realized it was just a redistribution of wealth.

Patterns of Subsistence

 

6.  Patterns of Subsistence                                                            Name __________________

1. Foraging

Ancient subsistence pattern, no exclusive foraging societies still exist

Almost every man a hunter, every woman a gatherer

No permanent year-round settlements

• Pedestrian – Aborigines, San of S.W. Africa, California Indians and Paiutes
• Peaceful, democratic, women have some power
• Equestrian – Great Plains Indians, Southern Argentinian grasslands
• Hunt on horseback, warlike, male-dominated, raiding/stealing is path to respect, buffalo is primary source of calories
• Aquatic – Inuit, Kwakiutl
• Subsist on marine life, reliable and productive life, politically powerful men

Cultural Traits

Is not a short, miserable existance.  Just because tech is simple, does not mean it’s grim

Foragers lived well into old age (60), longer than turn of the 20^th century Americans (50).

Adults work 15 hours a week to provide for entire community (US work 40-50 hrs/wk)

2.  Pastoralism

People make living by tending large herds of large animals

The Best use of grassland in an unpredictable climate - nomadic

• Horses – Mongolia, (little bit ranching in N America)
• Cattle – E Africa
• Sheep/Goats – Southeast Asia
• Camels – Southwest Asia/North Africa
• Reindeer – Lapps / N. Mongolia

Cultural Traits

Fresh meat is distributed fairly and ritual killing of herd animals feeds Gods and people

Men make quick, assertive decisions and own herds

Women raise children, domestic chores, have little power

Men are respected for their self-control and bravery as they must increase territory

Very successful in war because they are a moving cavalry that forages

3.  Horticulture

Small scale, low intensity farming, part time tending and planting of domesticated plants and animals

High population density – more productive than foraging, but more labor intensive

In the past, most societies were horticultural, now only exist in:

• Amazon Basin
• Congo Basin
• Southeast Asia

Shifting field use, slash and burn techniques, plant, then move every few years

Know very much about farming and when field shifting is taken away, the result is soil depletion and poverty

Can be very warlike with periodic raids on neighboring villages.

4.  Intensive Agriculture

Primary subsistence pattern of large-scale populous societies

Made possible by domestication of field animals and irrigation in large populations

Ancient – Egypt, Mesopotamia (Iraq and Syria), India, Pakistan, N China, MesoAmerica, Andes

Now- Primary food production pattern in all developed nations except where it’s very dry or cold using large scale industrial techniques.

Produced Major Social Changes

Year Round settlements –> Village markets –> Towns -> Cities

Complex divisions of labor - Urban centers occupied by specialists - Social Classes

Farmers lose political power – power goes to “kings” – little sharing of natural resources – women have little status or power

Currently

Major war, major disease / epidemics, increase in knowledge and life expectancy, change from a large family to just a nuclear family that moves often.

Move from physical power to mental power, therefore, women have gained power somewhat

Summary

The four subsistence patterns are

1.  Foraging

2.  Pastoralist

3.  Horticultural

4.  Intensive Agriculture