Society Against The State by Pierre Clastres
Essays in Political Anthropology
This thought-provoking work challenges conventional Western notions of political power and state formation by exploring the social structures of indigenous societies in South America. It argues that these societies actively resist the formation of centralized authority and hierarchical governance, maintaining a deliberate balance of power to prevent the rise of a ruling class. Through ethnographic observations, the book reveals how these communities prioritize collective decision-making and egalitarian principles, offering a compelling critique of the assumption that the state is an inevitable or desirable outcome of human social evolution.
- Published
- 1977
- Nationality
- French
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 200-250
- Original Language
- French
- Avg User Rating
-
(5.0)
- Alternate Titles
- None
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