political economy primitive societies

8/13/2019 political economy Primitive Societies

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PRIMITIVESOCIETIES

FEUDAL SYSTEM

SOCIALISM

CAPITALISM


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OBJECTIVES

Establish the political system.

The economic systems in these societies(means and modes of production).

How the people relate with the environment.

The link with development.


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Definition 1

Feudalism is a social system of rights andduties based on land tenure and personal

relationships in which land and to a muchlesser degree other sources of income areheld in fief by vassals from lords to whomthey owe specific services and with whom

they are bound by personal loyalty(William; 1990).


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Definition 2

A political and economic system of Europe

from the 9th to about the 15th century, based

on the holding of all land in fief or fee and the

resulting relation of lord to vassal and

characterized by homage, legal and military

service of tenants, and forfeiture (Brown;

1974).


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Definition 3

According toFranois Louis (1952) feudalismas a set of legal and military customs in

medieval Europe that flourished between the

9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined,

was a system for structuring society around

relationships derived from the holding of land

in exchange for service or labour.


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Political system

The administrative head was the king

The lords formed a hierarchy starting with a

king above, his vassals and then his tenants of

successively lower ranks (class system).

Public authority was decentralized

The peasantry did not have judicial, fiscal andother rights


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Political system (cont)

Changelessness was another attribute ofclassical feudalism European village societywhich characterized feudalism wasconservative and change resisting.

There existed a reciprocal r/ship of legal andmilitary obligations between the nobility

In the feudal era the State becomes lesspowerful. There is usually no strong unifiedcentral government. The most significanteconomic and political functions aredischarged by the feudal aristocracy.


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Economic system (cont)

Production in a feudal society is organized to

meet the need of the household or a village

community. Production is not meant for exchange

or for the market. The feudal economy is a naturaleconomy, its main object is consumption.

It was an economic society organized by tradition.

Tradition solved the economic problem. Traditiondirected men to their tasks. Tradition also

regulated the distribution of social rewards.


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Relationship with the environment

The land was the most important

environmental asset through the feudal land

tenure system in which land was held by

tenants from lords.

It was both a political and economic asset.

Poor extractive technology meant that the

environment was not exploited.


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Link with development

The political and economic dispensation wasthe spur for development in the feudal society.

The class system intensified inequalities in

society. The rich became richer and the poor became

worse

The rights of women were not recognizedwhich translated to low literacy and lack ofaccess to health attention.


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Link with development (cont)

Poor technology meant that there wasenvironmental sustainability.

The feudal society was resistant to change thus

trade with outsiders was minimal. According to Rashma (2012), feudal mentality

is lazy, inexpert and un-progressive. Feudalideology is based on non-acquisitiveness,

submissiveness and respect for tradition.Motivation was non-economic. Feudalqualities were antithetic of businesslike(Underdeveloped)

political economy primitive societies

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