Power and Authority Examples

Question 1

Marshall Sahlins and the Big Man

Answer 1

“Poor Man, Rich Man, Big Man, Chief”
S. Pacific/ Melanesia
Big Man: person who emerges from the group
VIP/ Man of Importance

Outside the group: known as Man of Renown
Fame –> brings prestige and respect

Question 2

Banyan Tree

Answer 2

appearance of concern for others but intentionally powerful

• creepers and vines looking to see when to overthrow the Banyan Tree
• but gives them protection

Question 3

Polynesians and Power/Authority

Answer 3

• chiefs/ office holds the power
• connected with the Divine
• genealogical connection to the chief
• accumulation of power keeps people close
• stuff = closeness to Divine
• redistribution

Question 4

Michael Herzfeld (Feb 2015)

Answer 4

Main point: Visibility/Invisibility
visibility: external sign of what is real
invisibility: can be debated, not necessarily real
- Keep people in the dark welds power
invisibility maintains power of what’s visible

Question 5

Visible and Invisible Examples

Answer 5

• “Non-seeing and the Practice of Power”
  Greeks/Turks/ horseback

-Thailand (Banchock)
city clerk/ squatters

-Rome-Anti-Discrimination Protest
Roma/ gypsies

-Cretan Shepherds
Never steal sheep → competition of who’s the best sheep stealer

Question 6

Kashmiri Shopkeepers

Answer 6

Outward: honest/ no bribs
Inward: cheat customers

Question 7

Carolyn Nordstrom

Answer 7

Looked at Angola
Amputee Women and banking system 
Visible: powerless
Invisible: Banking system
 1) 1 penny save every month
2) step process to success