Selected Bibliography in Political Anthropology (1965–1969)

Abstract

The field of African political anthropology is concerned with such problems as traditional political organization, power, ritual, structure, and composition of authority, and control of indigenous African societies in some context other than that involving colonial administration. It is political in a broad and multi-disciplinary perspective in contrast to the narrow perspective of studying African politics in terms of institutions or of the state. It is anthropology insofar as it deals with the study of tribal groups and their customs especially as they relate to the structure and function of power in a given society. In most cases the studies cited herein preclude concentration on rural areas, though where the citation includes urban African political anthopology it has been omitted. In cases where there has been a study of conflict between the indigenous polity with a colonial regime, all connections with the latter have been ignored. Historical studies, when pertaining to social movements and/or ideologies in the politico-anthropological context such as 'Mau Mau' and 'Kimbanguism,' have been included as well as studies of African customary law. Ethnographies are included when they concentrate on political customs. Most references come from the years 1965-1969, although a few significant citations go back to 1962. The organization of the bibliography is in seven parts.