Collective Action in the Formation of Pre-Modern StatesAnthropological archaeology and other disciplines concerned with the formation of early complex societies are undergoing a theoretical shift stemming from the realization that the social evolution of complex societies was more varied and complex than imagined. Given the need for new directions in theory, the book proposes that anthropologists look to political science, especially the rational choice theory of collective action. Collective action theorists propose that state formation results from the strategic behavior of rational and self-interested actors who make up the polity, including a political elite and those outside the official structure of the state. The theory proposes that the form taken by a state will depend on the “bargaining power”, of rulers and taxpayers. Where taxpayers have more resources with which to bargain, it is predicted that rulers will concede benefits to taxpayers and will agree to restrictions on their power. The authors subject collective action theory to a methodologically rigorous evaluation using systematic cross-cultural analysis based on a world-wide sample of societies. The results presented here indicate strong support for most elements of the theory, but some results, in particular those pertaining to the control of ruler behavior, suggest the possibility that there are contexts in which collective action may play out in ways not anticipated by the theory. While this type of theoretical modeling is commonly seen in political science research, this volume is unique in its approach from an anthropological and archaeological viewpoint. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 80
... Agricultural Change and State Evolution Military Costs and Manorialism Local Histories of The East Asian Societies . 75 77 78 79 80 81 82 Ming Dynasty Japan Tibet .. 82 83 85 Introduction to Western Eurasia , the Mediterranean , and ...
... Agriculture , and Area ( 14,100 sq . km ) . 302 Rural Society and Culture . 302 Market System . 303 Geography 304 Population 304 World - Economy Linkages . 304 Yoruba ( Figure A2-2 ) 304 Environment , Agriculture , and Area ( 46,500 sq ...
... Agriculture , and Area ( ca. 17,800 sq . km ) 314 Rural Society and Culture . 315 Market System . 316 Geography 316 Population 316 World - Economy Linkages . 317 Tio ( Figure A2-6 ) . . . . 317 Environment , Agriculture , and Area ...
... Agriculture , and Area ( 360 sq . km ) 329 Rural Society and Culture . 330 Market System .. 330 Geography 331 Population 331 World - Economy Linkages . 331 Thailand ( Figure A2-10 ) . 332 Environment , Agriculture , and Area ( 518,000 ...
... Agriculture , and Area ( 360,000 sq . km ) . 348 Rural Society and Culture 349 Market System . 350 Geography 351 Population 351 World - Economy Linkages . 352 Pudukkottai ( Figure A2-17 ) . . 352 Environment , Agriculture , and Area ...
Contents
Blanton_Ch01pdf | 1 |
Blanton_Ch02pdf | 5 |
Blanton_Ch03pdf | 12 |
Blanton_Ch04pdf | 25 |
Blanton_Ch05pdf | 33 |
Blanton_Ch06pdf | 112 |
Blanton_Ch07pdf | 133 |
Blanton_Ch08pdf | 165 |
Blanton_Ch11pdf | 266 |
Blanton_Ch12pdf | 290 |
Blanton_Appendix1pdf | 300 |
Blanton_Appendix2pdf | 302 |
Blanton_Appendix3pdf | 404 |
Blanton_Referencepdf | 406 |
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Other editions - View all
Collective Action in the Formation of Pre-Modern States Richard Blanton,Lane Fargher Limited preview - 2008 |
Collective Action in the Formation of Pre-Modern States Richard Blanton,Lane Fargher Limited preview - 2007 |
Collective Action in the Formation of Pre-Modern States Richard Blanton,Lane Fargher No preview available - 2010 |