Question 1

The presence and acceptance of which of the following is one of the key distinguishing features of a state?

Accepted Answer

Stratification is a key distinguishing feature of a state, as it implies the existence of structured social classes and a hierarchy, which is fundamental to the organization and governance of state societies.

Question 2

In tribal societies, the village head leads by example and through persuasion; he lacks the ability to force people to do things.

Accepted Answer

In tribal societies, leadership is often based on the respect and influence that the leader has within the community, rather than on the use of force or coercion. The village head must use persuasion, consensus-building, and traditional customs to guide and govern the community.

Question 3

What is hegemony?

Accepted Answer

Hegemony refers to a form of control where the dominated group accepts and internalizes the values and norms of the dominant group, seeing their domination as natural or inevitable. This concept is often associated with the ideas of Antonio Gramsci, who described how cultural and ideological means are used to maintain power in a society.

Question 4

In an ethnographic field study of political systems in northern Mozambique, Nicholas Kottak found that avoiding shame can be an effective control against breaking social norms. This example of how shame can be a powerful social sanction

Accepted Answer

Shame as a social sanction is a common theme in anthropology, emphasizing the role of informal processes like gossip and stigma in maintaining social order. Nicholas Kottak's findings align with this broader anthropological perspective.

Question 5

Age grades represent stages in one's life with specific tasks, obligations, and duties for the individuals in a given grade.

Accepted Answer

Age grades are a concept found in many cultures and represent specific stages in a person's life with corresponding responsibilities and expectations. These grades often structure social relationships and interactions within a community.

Question 6

The sociopolitical organization of foragers tends to be bands.

Accepted Answer

Foragers usually organize themselves into bands, which are small, kin-based groups of fewer than 100 people.

Question 7

The key difference between a village head and a big man is that the big man has supporters in many villages, whereas the supporters of the village head are restricted to his respective village.

Accepted Answer

The statement correctly describes the key difference between a village head and a big man.

Question 8

The anthropological approach to the study of political systems and organization is global and comparative and includes nonstates as well as the states and nation-states usually studied by political scientists.

Accepted Answer

The statement is correct. Anthropologists study political systems and organization in a global and comparative manner, including both states and non-states. This approach differs from the more narrow focus on nation-states often used by political scientists.

Question 9

According to Pierre Bourdieu and Michel Foucault,

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Pierre Bourdieu and Michel Foucault,
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Question 10

How do chiefdoms differ from states?

Accepted Answer

Chiefdoms lack the complex socioeconomic stratification and stratum endogamy that are characteristic of states. States have a more formalized and institutionalized structure with clear social classes, whereas chiefdoms are more kin-based and less rigidly stratified.

Question 11

In the anthropological study of political systems, social control maintains social norms (cultural standards) and regulates conflict. Which of the following is NOT a form of social control?

Accepted Answer

Exogamy, which refers to the social norm of marrying outside one's social group, is not a form of social control aimed at maintaining norms or regulating conflict directly. It is more related to social organization and kinship rules than to the mechanisms of social control like shame, hegemony, or gossip, which directly influence behavior and social order.

Question 12

Which of the following is the most important factor in determining an individual's power and prestige in a state?

Accepted Answer

Social status is the most important factor in determining an individual's power and prestige in a state, as it encompasses the individual's position within the social hierarchy, which directly influences their access to resources, influence, and recognition.

Question 13

The influential sociologist Max Weber defined which three related dimensions of social stratification?

Accepted Answer

Weber identified wealth (economic status), power (political status), and prestige (social status) as the three distinct but interrelated components of social stratification, influencing individuals' opportunities and life chances within society.

Question 14

Pantribal sodalities function to integrate the community by providing a series of important nonkin relationships.

Accepted Answer

Pantribal sodalities, also known as age sets or age grades, are social organizations that cut across kinship ties and create nonkin relationships that integrate the community. These relationships are based on shared experiences and rituals, and help to unify different kinship groups within a society.

Question 15

According to Max Weber, prestige is the basis of

Accepted Answer

Weber identified prestige as a key component of social status, where social status is determined by the honor or prestige a person holds in the eyes of others.

Question 16

Most band and tribal societies in the world today are completely cut off from the rest of the world.

Accepted Answer

While there are some isolated tribes that have chosen to remain separate from the larger world, the vast majority of band and tribal societies have at least some level of interaction and exchange with modern society.

Question 17

In the southern United States before the Civil War, gatherings of five or more slaves were forbidden unless a white person was present, because

Accepted Answer

Resistance is most likely to be expressed openly when people are allowed to assemble, which is why gatherings of five or more slaves were forbidden unless a white person was present in the southern United States before the Civil War. This measure was intended to prevent slaves from organizing and potentially rebelling.

Question 18

Which of the following is/are NOT typical of state-level societies?

Accepted Answer

State-level societies typically involve complex social structures, including specialized decision-making systems, class stratification, intensive agriculture, and boundary maintenance. A purely foraging-based subsistence strategy is not characteristic of state-level societies, which usually rely on more advanced and stable food production methods.

Question 19

In bands, the leader occupies an official office with coercive control over the members of the community.

Accepted Answer

In bands, leadership is typically informal and based on personal qualities and influence rather than coercive control or an official office.

Question 20

Since bands lack formalized law, they have no way of settling disputes.

Accepted Answer

While bands may not have formalized law in the way that modern societies do, they often have their own systems of rules and traditions for settling disputes within the group. This can include informal group discussions or meetings, mediation by respected members or leaders, or even shaming or social exclusion of individuals who violate group norms.

Quiz 12: Political Systems