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Which (types of political organization) are egalitarian and which are not?

User Joshpaul
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Final answer:

Political organizations range from egalitarian to hierarchical, with bands and tribes typically being more egalitarian, and chiefdoms and states being less so. Democratic systems aim for egalitarian ideals, but there is a spectrum of political organization characterized by complex evolution. Analyzing modern political movements, their structure, and goals can provide insights into their level of egalitarianism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks about the egalitarian nature of different types of political organizations. Political organizations can range from egalitarian to hierarchical. Among the four main types of social organization described by Service - bands, tribes, chiefdoms, and states - bands and tribes tend to be more egalitarian, whereas chiefdoms and states are less so, featuring more centralized leadership.

Different political systems such as monarchies, oligarchies, dictatorships, and democracies demonstrate varying levels of power distribution. Democratic systems strive to be more egalitarian, promoting justice and human rights, whereas systems like monarchies or dictatorships often exhibit greater inequality and centralization of power. It's crucial to recognize that political organizations exhibit a spectrum of qualities rather than fitting into neat categories, and these organizations evolve through complex historical processes.

Factors like modes of subsistence, and the type of authority as defined by Max Weber, also play a role in understanding the nuances of political organization. When analyzing modern political groups or movements, such as the MeToo or Tea Party movements, distinctions in leadership, membership, goals, and activities can reveal how egalitarian or hierarchical they are, with some fostering in-groups and potentially creating out-groups.

User Yuriy Romanenko
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