POLITICAL

and
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURES
INTRODUCTION
By: Ejay Karl Vermudo
Political Systems
Human groups have developed ways in which public decision-making,
leadership, maintenance of social cohesion and order, protection of
group rights, and safety from external threats are handled.
Anthropologists identify these as political systems or political
organizations. In studying political systems, anthropologists have
learned about the myriad ways that people acquire power, or the
ability to get others to do what one wants, and authority, or socially
acceptable ways in which to wield power. While political anthropologists
and political scientists share an interest in political systems, political
anthropologists are interested in the political systems from all different
types of societies while political scientists focus on contemporary
nation-states.
 Doctors Teachers Police

Black White Asians

Human beings are considered social animals. As such, they have a natural tendency to
join groups. However, considering that individuals have different interests, the tendency
towards conflict is as natural as the tendency to join social groups. Thus, there is a need
to establish a political system where power structures are defined to ensure that
conflicts are managed.
BANDS and TRIBES are considered the
simplest political systems. They are
often perceived to be “acephalous” or
without a well-defined leadership
system.
The band is typically formed by several families living
together based on marriage ties, common descendants,
and friendship affiliations, and members usually have a
common interest or enemy.

As the band increases in size, the tendency for conflict

increases, which leads to the band splitting along family
lines. The process is known as “band fissioning”.
Eventually, this could lead to some leaving the band to
form their own, which is referred to as “social velocity”.
 A band that survives
TRIBE fissioning and social
velocity, even as it
experiences
increasing population
and a shift from a
foraging and hunting
community to one
where there is now a
presence of multiple
communities
engaged in pastoral
or horticultural forms
of livelihood,
eventually becomes a
tribe.
TRIBE
A social division in a traditional society consisting of families or
communities linked by social, economic, religious,
Or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect.

A tribe is a group of people, or a community with similar values

or interests, a group with a common ancestor or a leader.
TRIBES
• Are often headed by a village
headman, even though such a role
does not have absolute political
power. A village headman derives
his authority from having a senior
position, coupled with an ability to
force others to obey him.
• Most tribes remain egalitarian,
where families and groups are
considered politically and
economically equal, even those of
the headmen.
• Tribes are also as economically
self-sufficient and are larger and
more integrated than bands.
 CHIEFDOMS
Is defined as a political organization that is more
defined. In a chiefdom, formal leadership exists,
and authority rests solely on the members of a
select family. It is composed of several communities
that are ruled by a permanent paramount chief
coming from this elite family. Power is thus
inherited in chiefdoms.
 THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE IN CHIEFDOMS
IS HIERARCHICAL.
• Social classes exist and are differentiated according to the level of their
power over the permanent ruler. However, class mobility can exist. It
usually happens when an extraordinary task or achievement.
Furthermore, social status is affected by marriage, age, and sex.
 CHIEFDOMS CAN EITHER BE SIMPLE OR
COMPLEX

Simple chiefdoms – characterized

by a central village or community
ruled by a single family. Several
smaller communities surround this
smaller community, with each being
headed by a subsidiary leader
subservient to the central to the
central ruler.
 CHIEFDOMS CAN
CHIEFDOMS
EITHER BE SIMPLE
EITHER SIMPLE OR
OR
COMPLEX
COMPLEX
Complex chiefdom – is composed
of several simple chiefdoms ruled
by a single paramount chief
residing in a single paramount
center. This is a highly structured
and hierarchical political system
characterized by a class system
where elites demand tributes in the
form of crops and produce from
the commoners to a system that is
called a “tributary system”.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CHIEFDOMS
ARE HIGHLY UNSTABLE AND ARE
PRONE TO CYCLES OF
DISINTEGRATION AND
REINTEGRATION
Anthropologists and archaeologists have
demonstrated through research that
chiefdoms are a relatively unstable form of
social organization. They are prone to
cycles of collapse and renewal, in which
tribal units band together, expand in
power, fragment through some form of
social stress, and band together again.
 POLITICAL LEGITIMACY AND AUTHORITY

The task of organizing a political

community requires the existence of
leaders. Leaders, to be effective, need to
possess authority that is considered
legitimate by the members of the
community.
 AUTHORITY is the power to make binding
decisions and issue commands. A leader
must possess authority.

What
What makes
makes an
an authority
authority binding
binding
and
and worthy
worthy of
of obedience?
obedience?

Legitimacy
LEGITIMACY is a moral and ethical
concept that bestows one who
possesses power the right to exercise
such power since such is perceived to
be justified and proper.
Do you think the power is
legitimate when someone
has authority?
AUTHORITY denotes a specific position in
an established government.
LEGITIMACY denotes a system of
government
An authority viewed as
legitimate often has the right and
justification to exercise power.
ELECTION
Legitimate power is a formal authority that
a person has over subordinates within an
organization.
A person with legitimate authority receives
recognition because of their job title or
assigned position.
NATION – is defined as a population who
shares a similar culture and ideals.
A nation formed as a result of common race,
religion, territory, history, culture, or political
aspirations. These elements are not essential
and ever-changing.
NATIONHOOD
STATE – is comprised of four elements:
• GOVERNMENT
• TERRITORY
• POPULATION
• SOVEREIGNITY (supreme power or authority).

If one element is absent, it disqualifies

the area from being called a state.
 State and Non-State
Institutions
By: Ejay Karl Vermudo
TERRITORY
POPULATION
GOVERNMENT
 LESSON 1 – STATE INSTITUTION
• State is a human community that successfully claims the monopoly
of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory.
 EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Is comprised of the President and Vice President who
are chosen by direct popular vote and fulfill a term of six
years.
 Can make laws, alter, and reverse them
through the power bestowed in the Philippine
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Congress.

In the current 19th Congress, there are 316 seats in

the House of Representatives.
 • Maintains the power to resolve disputes concerning rights
JUDICIAL BRANCH • This branch decides whether there has been a serious abuse
that are legally demandable and enforceable.

of judgment amounting to lack or excess of authority.

 POWER
• Is the capacity to realize desired
ends despite opposition from
others.
• The utilization of power is the
business of the government, which
is defined as a formal organization
that directs the political life of a
society.
• Therefore, the governments
demand compliance on the part of
the population (Macionis).
 • Power that people perceive as
AUTHORITY legitimate rather than coercive
(Weber).
3 TYPES OF
AUTHORITY

-TRADITIONAL
-RATIONAL-LEGAL
-CHARISMATIC
 Respect for long-standing
TRADITIONAL cultural patterns is used to
legitimize power.
 • Also known as bureaucratic
authority.
RATIONAL-LEGAL Legally created rules and regulations
are used to legitimize power.
 Extraordinary personal skills that inspire
CHARISMATIC devotion and obedience are used to
legitimize power.
Law Making
 Economic
Management
BORDER CONTROL
 Functions of State
•National Economic management
•Law making
•International representation
•Border control
Non-state institutions
Agencies that are not controlled by the
government.
 NON-STATE INSTITUTIONS
BANKS SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS
• A financial institution that receives
deposits from the public and generates
credit.
• Commercial/Retail Bank manages
withdrawals and deposits as well as
supplying short-term loans to a person and
small-scale businesses.
NON-STATE INSTITUTIONS
CORPORATIONS Social Implications
• A legal unit that is distinct from its
owner. Moreover, a corporation has
the right to enter contracts, loan and
borrow money, hire employees, own
assets, and pay taxes.
 NON-STATE INSTITUTIONS
COOPERATIVES Social Implications
• Are jointly owned enterprises engaging
in the production or distribution of
goods and services.
• Cooperatives are usually operated by
farmers or consumers for their mutual
benefit.
 NON-STATE
NON-STATE INSTITUTIONS
INSTITUTIONS
TRADE UNIONS Social Implications
• Also known as labor unions
• Consists of workforces who have come
together to attain mutual goals like
protecting the integrity of its trade,
improving safety standards, and achieving
higher pay and benefits like health care
and retirement.
•All Workers Alliance Trade Unions (AWATU)
•Associated Labour Unions - ALU-TUCP
•Confederation of Labor and Allied Social Services –
•Integrated Labor Organisation (ILO-PHILS.)
•Metalworkers Alliance of the Philippines - MWAP
•Philippine Metalworkers' Alliance - PMA
NON-STATE INSTITUTIONS
Transnational advocacy Social Implications
groups
Organizations that are devoted to
manipulating political, economic, social,
and institutional decisions across
country borders
NON-STATE
NON-STATE INSTITUTIONS
INSTITUTIONS
Development Agencies Social Implications
• These are independent
organizations whose goals
are to help and develop and
support economic growth,
especially for the poor and
marginal portion of society,
so they may have the
opportunities to come and
decent employment.
NON-STATE INSTITUTIONS
International Organizations Social Implications

• Transcend borders in pursuit of

common cause
• Red Cross