Political Aspect of Kinship

There is a complex relationship between kinship and the political ties.Morgan says that while kinship regulates the society,political order regulates the state.In some primitive communities the political relations are expressed in terms of kinship and the manipulation of kinship may serve as the means for political strategy.

Formation of groups based on unilineal descent and the external relations based on exogamous matrimonial relations involve political relations. However the ties between kinship and political elements are so close in primitive society that unless some criteria is found distinction may be difficult.

The lineage segments and the lineage has varying relations ranging between conflict to alliance and territorial orgnization which determines their political role.Descent groups and the territorial divisions both contribute towards determination of political field and either of it may prevail depending upon the stage of acculturation of the tribe.