On Chiefs and Chiefdoms

IF 0.3 Q4 SOCIAL ISSUES
H. Claessen
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引用次数: 11

Abstract

The type of political leader, commonly referred to as ‘chief’, emerged some ten thousand years ago, since the time that larger congregations of people had become possible when the changes in climate made agriculture and settled life possible (Cook 2005: 24–28). And, though the term ‘chief’ was used over and again in anthropological, archaeological, and even historical literature, the contents of the concept was never fully agreed upon. Most anthropologists would include any, or most, of the following aspects in his or her definition: an ascribed/inherited top position in the local (regional) social structure, a central position in a redistributive economy, sacred capacities (the most important of which were alleged positive effects on human, animal and plant fertility), the erection of great works in the public sphere, and an inclination to warfare. I shall discuss each of these features with their ramifications below. GENERAL REMARKS Chiefs are considered as sociopolitical leaders of a number of people – in the thousands, as Earle suggests (Earle 1991: 1; 1997: 14), which is not always the case. To distinguish the chief from other sociopolitical leaders some additional characteristics have to be added to this rather broad definition. In the first place a chief is an ascribed leader; he occupies a hereditary position (Service 1971: 146–147). Such positions are, in Kurtz terminology, political offices. 1 Chiefship is the prerogative of a certain family. When the old chief dies his son or sometimes a brother or a nephew will succeed him. In this way he is different from a big man, or a president. These are leaders with an achieved position, they are elected, and they have done something to get into that place. Neither can chiefs do without achievement; also they have to demonstrate the ability
论酋长和酋长领地
这种类型的政治领袖,通常被称为“酋长”,出现在大约一万年前,因为气候的变化使农业和定居生活成为可能,人们有可能聚集在一起(Cook 2005: 24-28)。而且,尽管“酋长”一词在人类学、考古学甚至历史文献中被反复使用,但这个概念的内容从未完全达成一致。大多数人类学家会在其定义中包括以下任何或大部分方面:在当地(地区)社会结构中归因于/继承的最高地位,在再分配经济中的中心地位,神圣的能力(其中最重要的是对人类,动物和植物的生育能力的积极影响),在公共领域建立伟大的作品,以及倾向于战争。我将在下面讨论这些特性及其分支。酋长被认为是许多人的社会政治领袖,如厄尔所言(厄尔1991:1;1997: 14),但情况并非总是如此。为了将酋长与其他社会政治领袖区分开来,必须在这个相当宽泛的定义中加入一些额外的特征。首先,首领是一个被指定的领袖;他占有世袭的地位(服务1971:146-147)。用库尔茨人的术语来说,这些职位就是政治职位。酋长是某一家族的特权。当老酋长去世时,他的儿子,有时是兄弟或侄子将接替他。在这一点上,他不同于大人物或总统。这些领导人已经取得了一定的地位,他们是选举出来的,他们做了一些事情来达到那个位置。酋长也不能没有成就;此外,他们还必须展示自己的能力
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来源期刊
CiteScore
0.80
自引率
33.30%
发文量
8
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