[cross-posted at Austro-Athenian Empire]

Gerard Casey’s discussion of medieval Ireland, which I’ve previously mentioned here, is now available online.

A brief excerpt:

Political theory – and, I suggest, most political practice – is dominated by a myth to the effect that the state is necessary. ... Such is the power of being first in the field (‘positioning’ in advertising terms) that the State can literally get away with murder if it can foster the notion that it is legitimate. ... Irish society, organised on anarchical principles, lasted for almost 2,500 years! During that time it showed a capacity, vital to any organic and developing system of social organisation, to absorb alien elements and internalise them.

Read the whole thing.

Sudha Shenoy - 7/4/2007

Gerard Casey summarises well the hierarchical structure of Irish society -- its various legal ranks of status. Someone's customary legal status had to be known first, only then would it be known what rules to apply. This status included position within a kindred.

This is like all such status societies -- eg, Anglo-Saxon; the later manorial societies of England & Western Europe; & Hindu society. In the manorial societies, being legally tied to a manor takes the place of position within a kindred in defining status. In Hindu society, the subcaste of birth determines status overall; position within the kindred applies where the family remains uder Hindu personal law.

But in all such status societies, trade & exchange occur under instrumental rules -- status cannot apply. Thus in Mali [West Africa], potters, carpenters, farmers, etc, all belong to different 'tribal' groups. _Within_ each such group, status rules apply -- eg, lineage heads allocate land to family heads for subsistence agriculture. But exchange & trade follow commercial rules.