EGALITARIANISM IN THE FACE OF HIERARCHY

Research into egalitarianism and hierarchy continues to be important i n understanding Political and economic processes in all societies. The se terms are relative, rather than absolute, categories and depend on cultural meanings as well as social action. The people of Sapwuahfik A toll (Federated States of Micronesia) assert an ethos of egalitarianis m while also valuing a traditional rank hierarchy adopted from neighbo ring Pohnpei Island. This paper describes how Sapwuahfik handles chall enges to its egalitarian ethos and how public activities, especially f easts, maintain that ethos while acknowledging the legitimacy of the r egional rank system. Sapwuahfik thus matches traditional polities with its powerful neighbor while protecting plausible egalitarianism withi n the community. The cultural linking of rank symbolism with community identity and the public management of status claims combine to make i ssues of rank a contested and fruitful domain of ideology and social a ction.