How humans govern themselves

Division of Human Societies (Service) 1/4: Band (all humans in bands in the beginning, most still wereby 11,000 BC): - Few dozen people - Nomadic - Everyone tight-knit - Egalitarian and democratic (group decisions = rule) - No economic specialization - Bands are very rare today

Division of Human Societies (Service) 2/4: Tribe (first tribes appeared around 13,000 BC): - Hundreds of people - Everyone knows everyone’s name - More food needed; agriculture almost always necessary (PNW Natives and Ainu in Japannotable exceptions) - Sedentary (stays in one place) - Relatively egalitarian (sometimes “big man” is weak leader) - Weak economic specialization - Tribes still exist, mostly are in Papua New Guinea, Amazon Rainforest, parts of Africa

Division of Human Societies (Service) 3/4: Chiefdom (began around 5500 BC): - Thousands of people - Some names not known by all, but everyone recognizable as fellows (shared ideology, politics, religion, etc.) - More food needed; agriculture necessary and usually animal husbandry - Chief = leader (usually hereditary), some proto-bureaucrats necessary - Redistributive economy, some inequality (some caste systems like India, Hawaii (10 castes!) - Still widespread in Polynesia, Sub- Saharan Africa, countryside in Americas - Native American “tribes” were really chiefdoms…confusing

Division of Human Societies (Service) 4/4: State (about 3400 BC onward, started in Mesopotamia (mostly today’s Iraq): - Large populations, mostly strangers - Most food necessary; urban vs. rural areas - Most economic specialization; sectors of economy, etc. - Most inequality of standard of living - Military necessary - Most power difference - Bureaucrats and government necessary - Attempts to close inequality gap have largely failed in history

Why the differences? 1) Evolutionary explanation: bands evolved into states by necessity 2) Culture varies…not all is dictated by environmental conditions (i.e. Kaulong strangled widows practice of Sautee in India) 3) Some cultural beliefs and practices have been spread historically over areas without being related to local conditions (i.e copy or be forced to do what outsiders do)

TYPES OF GOVERNMENTS Government : the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.

ANARCHY Anarchy : when there is no government and chaos reigns (i.e. times of government change, Somalia)

MONARCHY Monarchy : when there is one ruler who rules (i.e. a king or queen). This position is usually inherited and held an entire lifetime Origin: since the dawn of civilization; ancient Egyptian pharaohs, ancient Chinese emperors, etc. Positives: easy to get stuff done, people have clear roles in society Negatives: minimal accountability, very exclusive group in power, succession problems Examples: Medieval kings, ancient Chinese emperors, ancient Egyptian pharaohs, Saudi Arabia today. This was the most common government until the late 1700s-1800s.

TYPES OF ONE PERSON RULE Autocracy : all political systems governed by one individual Absolute Monarchy : when one person rules with complete power in a monarchy (i.e. Louis XIV, 1600s France) Constitutional Monarchy : when there is a monarch but also shared power with an elected body and/or is a ceremonial figure (i.e. Great Britain today) Despotism : when an individual or group has total power

Feudalism : system that orders society around the holding of lands in exchange for services or labor (i.e. medieval Japan, medieval Europe)

Democracy : when all citizens vote to have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives Origin: Athens, Greece, 507 B.C. Direct Democracy: ancient Athens-style democracy; when everything is done with voting Positives: 100% citizen participation, everyone has equal say Negatives: problems with 100% citizen participation, faction rivalries Examples today: Some “yes/no” questions on ballots: Should we raise taxes to build a bridge? Should we legalize marijuana? Should gay marriage be legal? Most countries have democratic elements but there are no direct democracies.

REPUBLIC Republic : voters elect officials/representatives who are responsible to the people Origin: Roman Republic, 509 B.C. Positives: “Brightest/best” people get elected, leaders held accountable by citizens, all citizens have equal power with the vote Negatives: problems associated with the public voting, tough to get things done quickly, faction rivalries Examples today: most countries in the world

GOVERNMENT of the USA “Democratic Republic” or “Representative Democracy”…we have elements of both a democracy and a republic. - James Madison (father of Constitution) aimed at making a republic above all else. The US government is 3 parts, is layered (Federalism), and makes use of checks and balances.

THEOCRACY Theocracy : when the government is influenced by the laws of God in making civil law Origin: Priest-kings in Mesopotamia, Caste System in ancient India, etc. Positives: ties religion in with government, roles clear to people Negatives: ties religion in with government, common people have little power, innovation may be difficult Examples today: very few but notably Iran.

COMMUNISM Communism : a government that seeks to make a classless, egalitarian (equal) society with common ownership Origin: Soviet Union (USSR), 1917; based on Marx/Engles’ ideals from the 1840s. Positives: unemployment gone, homelessness gone, all services are free for all Negatives: no profit incentive, subject to corruption and black market, equality is a myth Examples today: Cuba, North Korea are still staunchly communist, but this ideology has fizzled since the USSR collapsed in China, Vietnam, Laos all still consider themselves communist, but they really are not anymore (China not since the 1980s).

TERMS TO KNOW Fascism : a radical, authoritarian, hyper-patriotic government (i.e. Nazis) Totalitarianism : when all facets of life are controlled by the government (i.e. Stalin’s USSR) Socialist : often misused umbrella term, refers to when government owns institutions or businesses Oligarchy : system of government in which a small group holds power. The power is derived from wealth, military power, social position and is often self-appointed

- Many countries call themselves republics and/or democracies, but this is a farce. - In reality, these countries are really dictatorships or oligarchies. (i.e. North Korea’s full name: Democratic People's Republic of Korea)

CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENTS

Anarchy No government Aristocracy Rule by a privileged class Communism/ Communist State Classless society where equality, shared property ownership, and shared means of production are aims. Command economy. Confederation Separate political entities/states join together to achieve common aims Democracy People make laws, run society by the vote Despotism/Dictatorship A leader in total command (“autocracy” = one individual in power) Fascism Leader worship, high nationalism (thinking your country is superior), emphasis on military, government in total control Kleptocracy A government run by criminals and/or corruption Feudalism/Feudal State Hierarchal power structure: monarch owns land, gives land to nobles in exchange for loyalty and military service, peasants live on nobles’ land in exchange for protection Military Junta Government run by military leaders Absolute Monarchy Total rule by one person. Usually this is a hereditary system (the monarch is born into it) Monarchy Rule by one person, but power confined to a constitution of laws Oligarchy Small group of people have total power to run society Puppet State When a country exercises power over another country in all but name Republic Government ruled by representatives. Representatives can be elected or appointed. Theocracy Government ruled by religion Totalitarian State The government in total control of the people, including one’s thoughts