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 31
... Neoevolutionist Theory .. Pre - Modern States in the Neoevolutionist View Bringing Agency Back to Political Theory . . 3 The Social Actor in Collective Action Basic Ideas of Collective Action Theory .. 4 34 5 56 8 8 10 1227 12 13 13 14 ...
... Neoevolutionist Theory 38 Local Histories of the Sub - Saharan African Societies 40 Nupe .. 40 Yoruba , Oyo Empire 41 Asante Bagirmi 42 43 Kuba .. 44 Tio ... Buganda .. 44 45 Bakitara 46 Lozi .. Swahili Lamu . 47 47 Introduction to ...
... Neoevolutionist Theory . 88888 86 87 88 A Need for New Theory Beyond Neoevolutionism : Bringing More People Into Governance . 89 90 England Local Histories of the Coded Societies .. Egypt .. Athens Roman Empire Venice . Ottoman Empire ...
Sorry, this page's content is restricted.
Sorry, this page's content is restricted.
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 |
439 | |
443 | |
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 |