Chiefdoms: Power, Economy, and Ideology (School of American Research Advanced Seminars)

The study of chiefdoms has moved from a preoccupation with their formal characteristics to a concern with their dynamics as political institutions. The contributors are interested in how ruling elites retain power through control over production and exchange, and then legitimize that control through an elaborated ideology. The ten case studies look at particular chiefdoms, originating in specific historical conditions. Despite obvious differences between the chiefdoms, certain common underlying processes are revealed. The collection recognizes how complex and interdependent are the sources of power in society, as well as the forces of instability that constantly threaten to tear it apart. "The study of chiefdoms has moved from a preoccupation with their formal characteristics to a concern with their dynamics as political institutions. The contributors to this volume are interested in how ruling elites retain power through control over production and exchange, and then legitimize that control through an elaborate ideology. These case studies look at particular chiefdoms, originating in specific historical conditions. Despite obvious differences between the chiefdoms, certain common underlying processes are revealed." "The collection recognizes how complex and interdependent are the sources of power in society, as well as the forces of instability that constantly threaten to tear the society apart. Chiefdoms offers a rich and varied interpretation of sociopolitical power. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET The study of chiefdoms has moved from a preoccupation with their formal characteristics to a concern with their dynamics as political institutions. The contributors present eleven case studies examining how ruling elites retain power through control over production and exchange, and then legitimize that control through an elaborate ideology. Edited By Timothy Earle. A School Of American Research Book. Papers From A Seminar Entitled Chiefdoms, Their Evolutionary Significance, Held January 18-22, 1988 At The School Of American Research. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. xii, 341 p. : 24 cm "A School of American Research book." Includes bibliographical references and index This book developed out of a seminar on chiefdoms held at the School for American Research.