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
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... Blanton, Lane Fargher. Richard Blanton Lane Fargher Collective Action in the Formation of Pre - Modern States Springer Collective Action in the Formation of Pre-Modern States Fundamental Issues. FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES IN ARCHAEOLOGY Front ...
Richard Blanton, Lane Fargher. Collective Action in the Formation of Pre-Modern States Fundamental Issues in Archaeology Series Editors: Gary M. Feinman, Field.
... PRE-MODERN STATES Richard Blanton, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana Lane Fargher, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana CRAFT PRODUCTION AND SOCIAL CHANGE IN NORTHERN CHINA Anne P. Underhill, Field Museum, Chicago ...
Richard Blanton, Lane Fargher. Richard Blanton • Lane Fargher Collective Action in the Formation of Pre - Modern States Springer Richard Blanton Lane Fargher Department of Sociology and Anthropology Department.
... 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 14 15 17 17 18 18 19 20 21 ...
Contents
25 | |
Introduction to SubSaharan Africa | 34 |
Local Histories of the SubSaharan African Societies | 40 |
Introduction to Southeast Asia | 48 |
Growth of Bureaucracy in the Postclassic | 54 |
Introduction to South Asia | 60 |
5 | 61 |
Introduction to East Asia | 74 |
Market Community and Household in the Evolution | 280 |
1227 | 290 |
Variables and Coded Data for the Exit | 300 |
14 | 302 |
Asante Figure A23 | 308 |
Bugada Figure A27 | 320 |
18 | 323 |
Swahili Lamu Figure A29 | 329 |
Local Histories of The East Asian Societies | 82 |
England | 92 |
New World Societies | 107 |
56 | 118 |
Public Goods | 133 |
8 | 165 |
Modes of Control of Principals | 203 |
10 | 249 |
Cultural Code or Rational Actors in the Evolution | 256 |
Collective Action Processes at WorldEconomy | 266 |
Collective Action Process at the Regional Scale | 272 |
Bali Figure A212 | 338 |
19 | 360 |
Japan Figure A220 | 366 |
21 | 373 |
Rome Figure A223 | 380 |
England Figure A225 | 388 |
Description of Coded Variables and the Coded | 404 |
Author Index | 439 |
Developing a Research Program to Evaluate Collective | 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 No preview available - 2010 |