Gluckman's Village Headman

Abstract

Anthropologists have generally accepted Gluckman's analysis of “intercalary” authority roles, notably that of the village headman. But Gluckman emphasizes conflicting demands to the exclusion of sources of support and does not take account of the processual aspects of administration. A more flexible paradigm is needed, one that will permit an assessment of the headman's often considerable room for maneuver.