Anthropologists use the word “Big Man” to describe the style of leadership in the Melanesian leadership system. The Big Man system is a complex style of leadership which is practice Melanesian countries such as Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu. This easy will further discuss the advantages and disadvantage associated with the Big Man leadership system.
The Big Man system is a complex and unique leadership system that thrives in the Melanesian society. The Big Man is a traditional style of leadership which earned through personal merits. This section will discuss two advantages of Big Man leadership system. Firstly, the advantage of Big Man system is that it is an egalitarian leadership style. Meaning that everyone can be a leader no matter what social class or ethnic group …show more content…
The Melanesian leadership system “is less socially stratified and more egalitarian” (in-text). Meaning that Melanesian society is not based on social classes, and people are not restricted to pursue a leadership role. Therefore the disadvantage of having unstructured leadership system is that it permits anyone to be a leader. However, permitting individuals to acquire Big Man status is somewhat concerning, because “Big Men acquire and hold power without the traditional authority that chiefly status accords and without other institutionalized mechanisms of social control.” (What-when-how.com, n.d.). As a result, the unstructured nature of the Melanesian leadership system subject to the harmful effect if the wrong people acquire a Big Man status and that is evidential in the Solomon Islands. When the wrong people hold power and control, “it weakens the very foundation of the Solomon Islands as an integrated state of multiple islands, and it can result in fragmented political interests that can lead to even greater instability and tension.” (Diaman
The Big Man system is a complex and unique leadership system that thrives in the Melanesian society. The Big Man is a traditional style of leadership which earned through personal merits. This section will discuss two advantages of Big Man leadership system. Firstly, the advantage of Big Man system is that it is an egalitarian leadership style. Meaning that everyone can be a leader no matter what social class or ethnic group …show more content…
The Melanesian leadership system “is less socially stratified and more egalitarian” (in-text). Meaning that Melanesian society is not based on social classes, and people are not restricted to pursue a leadership role. Therefore the disadvantage of having unstructured leadership system is that it permits anyone to be a leader. However, permitting individuals to acquire Big Man status is somewhat concerning, because “Big Men acquire and hold power without the traditional authority that chiefly status accords and without other institutionalized mechanisms of social control.” (What-when-how.com, n.d.). As a result, the unstructured nature of the Melanesian leadership system subject to the harmful effect if the wrong people acquire a Big Man status and that is evidential in the Solomon Islands. When the wrong people hold power and control, “it weakens the very foundation of the Solomon Islands as an integrated state of multiple islands, and it can result in fragmented political interests that can lead to even greater instability and tension.” (Diaman