Politics Everywhere?

OB1Shinobi wrote:

Akkarin wrote: If politics is a form of agreed social management then it seems to me that animals do have politics, though of course not nearly as complex as ours (though maybe ours isn't even as complex as we seem to think it is?). Either way having something such as an Alpha male is a "kind" of political arrangement, alphas even have to occasionally fend off competitors from the same tribe looking to supplant them.

The idea that the strongest (typically male) member of that group is the leader has only recently been abandoned, to some degree, in western history.

has it been adandoned?

Nope...

The idea of what "alpha" has changed....

The "meek" have overcome the "strong"....

And, honestly, if a "strong" is intelligent, they realize that the "weak" are smarter, and might have a better idea of how to run things...

Just my current musings...

Of course, one who is both "weak" and "strong" would probably be a good Alpha, ....

What's the Tao about "a good leader letting the people rule themselves with little input?

gorrillas will oust an alpha if he fails as a leader
a big part of his leadership role requires a kind of social sensitivity or social acuity to the members in the group

wolves at first glance appear to be in a purely physical contest of strength, but its not always the largest wolf that leads and this is seen in many "alpha" social structures, intelligence and confidence -or assertivenesss, even personal charisma are major factors in determining status in a group.

who wins an election if not the stronger candidate who ran the stronger campaign or had the strongest platform with the strongest base?
lol
everything changes into exactly what it was before