On the Character of Tribes and the Political System

The tribe is a special form of social organization which occurs in the transition from the primitive society to class society. It consists of several clans related by mutual marriage. It is characterized by its own name, territary, dialect, chieftain, decision-making meeting, religion and custom, etc.. This article deals with be questions of 1)the concept of a tribe; 2) the political system of a tribe; and 3) the characteristics of a tribe. It will be clear from thediscussion that the tribe is comparatively a complete socio-political organization, and never stope developing. Owing to itspeculiar political system, its surviving forces will persist for a long time, but they are quite different from its mother tribe.Investigating the tribe will contribute to our understanding of the minority nationalities, particularly to our furtherunderstanding of such tribal political societies as the Mongolian nationality's, the Zang nationalty's, the Yugurnationality's, the Hazak nationality's, etc.