Political Structures Flashcards
What is politics?
It involves the dynamics of conflicit resolution and cooperation, as well as the exercise of power
What is power?
The ability to do something in order to achieve a desired outcome
What is authority?
It is when a person who has authority has the right to exercise power
What are the types of political organizations?
Bands, tribes, chiefdom, state, and nation
What are bands?
A small community, oftentimes nomadic group that is connected by family ties and is politically independent
ex. hunting and gathering way of life
What are tribes?
A combination of smaller kin or non-kin groups, linked by a common culture
What are chiefdoms?
A political unit headed by a chief, holds power over more than one community or group, based on blood or merit
What is a state?
A political unit consisting of a government that has sovereignty presiding over a group of people and a well-defined territory
What is a nation?
A group of people that share common history, language, tradition, customs, habits, and ethnicity
What is sovereignty?
Sovereignty is the supreme political power of the state that is not subject to any other authority.
