ANTH205 UNIT 2 EXAM 2 10 24 POLITICS AND STRATIFICATION What is political system o System by which social power is distributed in order to deal with challenges arising from group living o Foreign relations o Keeping the peace o Infrastructure maintaining public goods o Distribution of labor and resources Types of Political Structures o Band Small loosely defined group with no formal leadership Most common among hunter gatherers Very egalitarian distribution of resources and power Mobility offers many solutions when theres a conflict within the group or outside of the group you can just move or separate MBUTI Band with around 30 individuals Jo Haonsi o Tribe Defined political system organized around kinship Political role determined by status in kinship group Positions of power over multiple groups often temporary Common among horticulturalists and pastoralists Yanomamo each village has a head man who has to lead by example Tsimane live in larger groups 200 300 and each group has a leader o Chiefdom Centralized political entities separate from kinship systems Permanent political positions Ruler controls multiple groups Requires some storable and transportable surplus Common among horticulturalists and agriculturalists Samoa Theres a chief that is in charge of multiple families who manages distribution of labor and resources a talking chief etc o States the largest most complex political system Autonomous centralized political entities with administrative bureaucracy Full time police forces full time military people are specialized within this political system There are defined territories in which the political system has control Intensive agriculture or industry Highly specialized populace with separate classes and professions STATE LEVEL POLITICAL SYSTEMS Autocracy degree to which power is destined to a single individual Monarchy that power is inherited Dictatorship Oligarchy ruled by few Democracy ruled by many Republic VS Democracy Republic some limitation on govt power and some level of democratic participation in govt Socialism VS Communism Autocracy VS Authoritarian VS Totalitarianism Theocracy Stratification o Hierarchical arrangement of society into classes o Uncommon in band and tribal groups o Can differentiate political power social roles and wealth o Degree to which it is institutionalized o Causes Functionalist approach Conflict approach Communism and Collectivism o Individualism KAPAUKU Central Irian Jaya Relations Very individualistic culture Ownership and achievement highlighted Separate areas of gardens warriors spread out to know who makes kill etc India Caste System o Referenced in Hindu religious texts o Four main castes varna Brahmins religious clergy Kshatriyas ruling class Vaishyas middle class works men Shudras servants and laborers Dalits the untouchables Anything they touch becomes unclean U S Tax System o Social costs disproportionately distributed o Tax credits welfare social programs government healthcare etc Reduce income inequality distribute the wealth Welfare States o Government plays major role in assuring the welfare of population o Increased taxation o Increased access and depth of welfare programs 10 24 2013 10 24 2013