Kin networks and political leadership in a stateless society, the Toda of South India

Abstract

Data collected in 1902 by W.H.R. Rivers on traditional leadership among the Toda of South India were used to test the hypothesis that leaders should be individuals with positions of centrality in a kinship network. The hypothesis was supported for individuals occupying a number of leadership roles in this society. The Toda are reported to have had a preference for cross-cousin marriage. The two endogamous divisions showed a marked difference in compliance with this preference. In the numerically superior division, compliance was low, particularly among high-status males. In the other division, compliance was much higher, especially among high-status males. It is suggested that this difference relates to the use of marriage as a strategy for attaining leadership. When potential wives are scare, it may be to a male's advantage to have a claim on a woman standing in a particular relation to him. As potential wives become numerous, it may be to a male's advantage to avoid consanguineous marriage (which perpetuates an already existing tie) and use marriage to create new ties that enhance his leadership position.