Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/697

 THE SOCIOLOGY OF CONFLICT 673

in the like situation of the group. This necessity of centraliza- tion, of energetic mobilization of all the elements, which alone guarantees their utilization for all possible demands without dis- sipation of strength and time, is a necessity so matter-of-course in a case of conflict that, as a whole, it calls for no discussion. The familiar reaction between despotic constitution and martial tend- encies in a group rests upon this formal ground ; war demands the centralized energizing of the group-form, which despotism most easily guarantees. And on the other hand, if this has once taken place, the energies thus bound together and consolidated with each other strive very easily for the most natural discharge for a for- eign war. An illustration of this correlation may be cited from its opposite, on account of its characteristic precision. The Eskimos of Greenland are one of the anarchistic peoples ; no sort of chief- tainship exists among them. In fishing they are inclined, to be sure, to follow to some extent the most experienced man, but he possesses no sort of authority, and against one who separates him- self from the community undertaking there is no means of con- straint. Now, it is said of these people that the only way in which quarrels are fought out among them is by a singing duel. If one of them believes himself to have been injured by another, he composes some satirical verses and produces them in a popu- lar gathering drawn together solely for this purpose. Thereupon the opponent answers in similar fashion. Accordingly, the abso- lute absence of all warlike instinct and the equally absolute absence of all political centralization correspond with each other. Among the organizations of the aggregate group, therefore, that of the army is always the most centralized, with perhaps the single exception of the fire guard, which encounters necessities absolutely the same in form. In such organization, through the unlimited command of the central authority, every independent movement of the elements is excluded, and therefore the impulse which proceeds from this source of command realizes itself with- out any dynamic loss in the movement of the whole. That which characterizes a federated state as such is its unity as a war-making power. In all other particulars each state may retain its independence ; in its military system this is impossible,