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Warfare and the Dynamics of Political Control

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anthropology of warfare
archaeological case studies of warfare
archaeology of violence
Category=JHMC
Category=JPS
Category=JWA
Category=NHTB
Category=NK
cross-cultural political violence
cultural ecology
empires and warfare systems
eq_bestseller
eq_history
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
eq_society-politics
fortifications and sociopolitical control
human sacrifice and conflict
ideological signaling in warfare
military strategy in early societies
political control
political control and warfare
political power
political power dynamics
prehistoric political complexity
settlement patterns
slave-taking in ancient societies
social stratification
sociopolitical organization
State formation
state formation and conflict
violence and governance in ancient societies
warfare

Product details

  • ISBN 9780816554812
  • Weight: 454g
  • Dimensions: 152 x 229mm
  • Publication Date: 17 Jun 2025
  • Publisher: University of Arizona Press
  • Publication City/Country: US
  • Product Form: Hardback
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Description
Warfare and the Dynamics of Political Control draws on a wealth of interdisciplinary perspectives to explore how conflict shapes the establishment and maintenance of political institutions, from small-scale societies to expansive empires. The book examines the material and ideological factors that drive warfare, the organization of combatants, the ways leaders use violence to consolidate power, and how groups resist political domination in times of conflict. By posing critical questions about the efficacy of strategies and the varied outcomes of conflict-driven power struggles, this volume offers profound insights into the dynamics of political control throughout history.

Bringing together case studies from diverse regions and time periods, Warfare and the Dynamics of Political Controlilluminates the multifaceted nature of political violence. The volume includes discussions of human sacrifice, slave-taking, ideological signaling, and military strategy and tactics. The case studies reveal how different forms of political violence influence societal structures. From the fortifications of the Māori in New Zealand to the city walls of early historic India, each contribution provides a detailed analysis of how warfare has been used to both to challenge and to establish political hierarchies. Featuring examples from small foraging communities to large empires across various regions and time periods, the book offers a wide-ranging exploration of how different groups have used and resisted political violence.

This essential work contributes to our understanding of the intersections between conflict and political power, making it a vital resource for scholars of anthropology, archaeology, political science, and history.
About
Brian R. Billman is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.