'The book is a significant addition to the growing body of field research on non-western political institutions.' - M. Fortes, Nature'Contains excellent short essays on six African societies in which lineages determine the major political groups.' - Africa

• 1. John Middleton and David Tait, Introduction 2. Laura Bohannan, Political Aspects of Tiv Social Organization 3. Jean Buxton , The Mandari of the Southern Sudan 4. Godfrey Lienhardt, The Western Dinka 5. Edward Winter, The Aboriginal Political Structure of Bwamba 6. David Tait, The Territorial Pattern and Lineage System of Konkomba 7. John Middleton, The Political System of the Lugbara of the Nile-Congo Divide