From: "Richard Knox" <knox-AT-scvnet.com>
Subject: RE: nomadology & border theories
Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2002 10:45:46 -0700


To understand societies with less structure you might consider trying to get
more detail on the Western United States of 150 years ago. Large areas were
more or less self organized with maybe an annual visit from the US ranger.
There are lots of historical fragments from that period - available for
direct examination and not yet organized by the corrupting processes of
historians.

I suspect that if you find a "text" you will have located the opinions of
the author, supported by a collection of data that fits her opinions.

Is there reason to suppose that the power structures that develop in one
particular situation have a lot in common with those that develop in
another? I would imagine that the underlying philosophical / religious
values of the group would have a lot to do with the power structures that
the group accepts. Mormons and Russian Communists might create much
different structures than Buddhists.

The rise of power figures such as mafia dons or the Kings of France and
England or the current King of the US must give us some clue as to
underlying motives. Maybe people collectively prefer a powerful controller
who sees to it that we are not robbed in our sleep, to a more gentle guiding
figure? I saw a poll from Russia the other day suggesting that the
respondents were more interested in regular employment than freedom of
speech.



     --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---