Tribes Without Rulers: Studies in African Segmentary Systems

John Middleton, David Tait

Psychology Press, 2004 - Africa - 234 pages

Recent research in Africa has shown a wide range of political systems, from small societies of wandering hunters to large states of several million people comparable with mediaeval European feudal kingdoms. In between are many societies in which a central government is lacking; the political system is based upon a balance of power between many small groups, which with their lack of classes or specialized political offices, have been called 'ordered anarchies'.
First published in 1958.

Contents

• INTRODUCTION: 1
• POLITICAL ASPECTS OF TIV SOCIAL ORGANIZATION: 33
• THE MANDARI OF THE SOUTHERN SUDAN: 67
• THE WESTERN DINKA: 97
• THE ABORIGINAL POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF BWAMBA: 136
• THE TERRITORIAL PATTERN AND LINEAGE SYSTEM: 167
• THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF THE LUGBARA OF THE NILE: 203
• INDEX: 231

Bibliographic information

• Title: Tribes Without Rulers: Studies in African Segmentary Systems; Volume 18 of Africa : in 26 volumes; Volume 18 of Routledge library editions 18; Volume 18 of Routledge library editions: Anthropology and ethnography
• Editors: John Middleton, David Tait
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Psychology Press, 2004
• ISBN: 0415329973, 9780415329972
• Length: 234 pages