What is economy? Political Organization Feb. 6 Different ways of - PDF document

What is “economy”? Political Organization Feb. 6 � Different ways of producing, distributing and consuming resources Who’s in charge What is “politics”? WOLF – POLYANI – MODES of Modes of � The means by which societies maintain PRODUCTION EXCHANGE order and Kin-based Reciprocity Tributary Redistribution � decide what individual members will do Market- Market- with their time. Capitalist Capitalist Forms of Reciprocity Redistribution � Generalized � Through some centralized authority � At a centralized place � Balanced � With a ritual � Negative � Largely voluntary 1

Foragers Egalitarian Bands Horticulturalists Political Organization Pastoralists Tribes Agriculture Ranked Chiefdoms Market Stratified Capitalist States Industrial Egalitarian Societies: How do you keep the peace? � Equal access to strategic resources. � Fairly equal distribution of resources. � No personal property � As many positions of prestige as people � No restricted access to productive capable of filling them. resources � Prestige achieved through acts of generosity. � Usually foraging. � And yet… � Generally little commitment to private space – Disputes happen. But over what? or private property. � About 97% of human history. Diffusing tension Ranked Societies: � Equal access to strategic resources � Song duels � Unequal access to positions of prestige. Those positions are gained through skill and � Killing generosity. These are positions of � Exile responsibility in the community (often to suggest resolutions to conflicts or issues), but not one of having power over others or gaining increased access to material goods. � Often have strict social boundaries � Usually have some forms of private property 2

The “Big Man” (bigger than a “His” tools village head) � example � Persuasion � Generosity � Convinces followers to give tribute � Big Men cap regional political organizations � Some longer-term stability Other Big Men… Stratified Societies: � Unequal access to strategic resources. � Unequal access to positions of prestige and power. � Strict boundaries/control/often with strict social control. � Private property is widespread. � Conflicts often are resolved by outside authority. � Have only existed in the last few thousand years of human existence. What is “the state?” The link to economy? � Autonomous political unit � Storable surplusses! � Encompasses many communities � Central government and stratification � Divided society: classes � Industrial/non-industrial 3

For example… Quiz 5 � Name the 3 forms of social/political organization. � T/F In a ranked society there is no private property. � T/F Big Men appear in egalitarian societies. � T/F The forms of political organization are mutually exclusive. � Name one way in which economic organization is linked to political organization of complex societies. 4