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The Biopolitics of the Great Apes

The world of biology and politics: Organization and research areas

ISBN: 978-1-78190-728-3, eISBN: 978-1-78190-729-0

Publication date: 25 September 2013

Abstract

Purpose – This chapter contributes to comparative biopolitics and reviews primatological literature, especially about our nearest relatives, the Great Apes.

Design/methodology/approach – Biopolitics in this chapter means evolutionarily informed political science, with emphasis on power relations. I review the literature on intrasexual and intersexual dominance interactions among individuals and competitive and/or agonistic interactions among groups in the Great Apes (Hominidae, formerly Pongidae): orangutan (Pongo with two species and three subspecies), gorilla (Gorilla with four subspecies), bonobo (Pan paniscus), and common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes with four subspecies). In the final section I present some (speculative) thoughts on Pan prior or the modern human ancestor.

Findings – Not only Man is a political animal.

Originality/value – Impartial, objective, and as complete as possible review of the literature for the students of (comparative) politics, ethology, and psychology.

Keywords

Citation

van der Dennen, J.M.G. (2013), "The Biopolitics of the Great Apes", The world of biology and politics: Organization and research areas (Research in Biopolitics, Vol. 11), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 91-133. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2042-9940(2013)0000011009

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2013 Emerald Group Publishing Limited