How did leaders evolve in essentially leaderless societies
Most people dislike their leaders. Some want to do away with them altogether. According to Harris, how did leaders evolve in essentially leaderless societies. What was the catalyst that prompted the evolution of leaders? Much as we’d like to consign our leaders to another planet sometimes, can we really do without them?
Sample Answer
According to Marvin Harris, leaders evolved in essentially leaderless societies as a result of the need for coordination and cooperation. In small, hunter-gatherer societies, people could get by without leaders because everyone knew each other and could work together informally. However, as societies grew larger and more complex, the need for coordination and cooperation increased. This led to the emergence of leaders who could organize and direct the activities of the group.
The catalyst that prompted the evolution of leaders was the need to solve collective action problems. Collective action problems are problems that can only be solved if a group of people cooperate. For example, if a group of people need to build a bridge, they will need to cooperate to do so. Without a leader, it would be difficult to get everyone to agree on a plan and to work together to implement it.