Chimpanzee Politics: Power and Sex among Apes

by Frans de Waal

The first edition of Frans de Waal's Chimpanzee Politics was acclaimed not only by primatologists for its scientific achievement but also by a much broader audience of politicians, business leaders, and social psychologists for its remarkable insights into very basic human needs and behaviors. In this revised edition―featuring a new gallery of color photographs along with a new introduction and epilogue―de Waal expands and updates his story of the Arnhem colony and its continuing political upheavals. We learn the fate of many memorable chimpanzees and meet the colony's current leaders and their allies. The new edition remains a detailed and thoroughly engrossing account―of sexual rivalries and coalitions, of actions governed by intelligence rather than instinct―and it reaffirms the complex bond between humans and their closest living relatives. As we watch the chimpanzees of Arnhem behave in ways we recognize from Machiavelli (and from the nightly news), de Waal reminds us again that the roots of politics are older than humanity.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Psychology, Politics, Biology, Animals, Anthropology

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Frans de Waal has been named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. The author of Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?, among many other works, he is the C. H. Candler Professor in Emory University’s Psychology Department and director of the Living Links Center at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Reviews

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. The more scientifically-inclined should note this is more like an anthropologist's report on observing a remote culture than a popular science description of the collective results of scientific studies.

In order to get a better idea of chimp group behavior than is possible with small numbers of chimps in zoos or living in people's home, they wanted to watch a sizable group. It's difficult to see all the interactions that occur in the wild. So, they put a group in a large enclosure. However, the group was not taken as a whole from one place, and was originally all female until they added a few adult males. To make observations easier, the enclosure had fewer trees and such than in nature that would limit viewing. So, this book is based on an artificial setting and group, and is not even an overview of multiple artificial settings and groups.

As a result, the book is an important starting point for understanding chimps, but should not be treated as the best and fullest scientific understanding we can achieve. The book came out a good number of years ago, so it's possible that other books have come out which are based on a broader review of chimp groups.

[Петър Стойков · Rating 5 out of 5]

Сред изследователите отдавна има спор за причината, поради която се е развила човешката интелигентност. Защо изведнъж (в еволюционен план - едва за милион години) един вид примати са станали толкова умни?

Защо, при условие, че и преди са се оправяли чудесно (като цяло огромната част от другите животни) без грамадния фронтален лоб, който харчи огромно количество енергия и прави децата ни ужасяващо трудни за раждане, с тия големи глави, и безпомощни години след това?

Теории изобилстват, като по-известна у нас е тая на марксизма-ленинизма, че "трудът е направил от маймуната човек" - която пък е поизменена основната, приета от по-голямата част от изследователите теория, че интелектът е, както почти всеки останал орган и приспособление, при всички животни, създаден от еволюцията чрез естествен подбор инструмент за справяне със заобикалящата среда.

Друго леко изменение на тая теория е, че интелектът е възникнал за справяне с околната среда, но не с опасностите на природата, хищници и намиране на храна, а за управление и оцеляване в сложната среда на социалните отношения в стадото/групата. Останалите ползи от интелекта са по-скоро странични ефекти.

Тази теория се подкрепя от факта, че всички животни, които наричаме високоинтелигентни, живеят в постоянни групи - делфини, слонове, примати, вранови птици, папагали. Единственото високоинтелигентно животно, което живее самостоятелно е октоподът, но той е продукт на съвършено различен еволюционен клон.

Най-интелигентните от интелигентните животни и едновременно наши най-близки еволюционни братовчеди, са шимпанзетата. В продължение на няколко години, холандският учен Франс де Ваал наблюдава стадо шимпанзета, живеещи в нарочно построен за целта парк в родината му и записва и анализира техните социални отношения - достигайки до както очевидни за много хора, така и важни за науката изводи.

Очевидното за много хора е, че ... шимпанзетата в групата се държат като хора. Ама съвсем като хора. Чак плашещо като хора. Имат си приятели и врагове, въртят интриги, стремят се да са популярни и харесвани от останалите или да всяват страх, за да се домогнат до по-висока позиция в стадото.

Сключват и развалят съюзи, играят си с бебета, за да се подмажат на майките им и да се съюзят с тях срещу противника си. Тия социални игрички и понякога даже войни заемат огромната част от времето им и очевидно изискват ресурсите на развитият им интелект.

Дори при дивите шимпанзета, които трябва да се пазят от хищници, от други стада шимпанзета (те се избиват едни други) и да търсят храна е повече от очевидно, че основна за оцеляването им е социалната функция на интелекта, способността им да намират и задържат съюзници, които да им помагат срещу различните врагове и в намирането на храна.

Книгата Chimpanzee Politics: Power and Sex Among Apes е научно-популярно описание на няколкогодишните наблюдения и анализите на автора на събраните данни за развиващите се социални отношения между шимпанзетата и съюзите, изграждани от няколкото мъжкари между тях и с женските, в стремежа им към върха на социалната пирамида.

В поведението на шимпанзетата можем да видим толкова много от нашето собствено поведение, че ако имаме акъла да се позамислим, ще видим корените на йерархичната система, стремежа към власт и други човешки белези не в "съвременното общество", а дълбоко в еволюционната история на предците ни.

[Artur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chimpanzee Politics by Frans de Waal is an attempt to provide a valid overview of what the author believes can be coined as politics among our closest genetic relatives, the chimpanzees. He does an excellent job, mostly.

By following a popular definition of politics, he describes it as a social process determining who gets what, when, and how, and further says that

there can be little doubt that chimpanzess engage in it.

Subsequent chapters describe a chimpanzee colony in the Arnhem Zoo, the Netherlands, and its relation to social interactions, such as reciprocity and strategic intelligence.

Reader's main concern is raised early in the book, with the author's parallel between his study and island biogeography. De Waal rightly points out that the relative simplicity of islands has allowed naturalists, such as Darwin, to develop ideas applicable to more complex systems. He then concludes, though, that since

the chimpanzee island at the Arnhem Zoo housed a limited number of chimpanzees [just like a real island], under simplified conditions,

the principles he presents in his case-study apply to apes on an island and apes in the zoo.

The author does not seem to acknowledge that those simplified conditions in the said environments can, and most probably do, derive from non-identical conditions. For wild apes, they can be advantageous just as much as potentially lethal (e.g. weather-relative factors, like abundance or scarcity of food), whereas the apes in the zoo do not have to face negative consequences of their surrounding. In a footnote, the author evokes further parallels drawn by another primatologist, Christopher Boehm. Yet, he somehow fails to mention that Boehm points out to factors - non-existent in a zoo - that can potentially breach social structure of wild apes, such as inter-group conflicts that, for instance, put pressure on adult males and make them evidently more agressive towards infants (vide: Hierarchy in the Forest). He admits that superficial conditions were applied to study the Arnhem colony:

In Arnhem the problem of competition for food has beem effectively solved by two measures. First, the public are kept away from the animals so that they cannot feed them. Second, the apes are split up every evening into small groups and fed in the cen cages where they sleep [in order to alleviate the aggression among the chimpanzees].

If anything, the Arnhem zoo is more like a haven than a recreation of natural enviornment.

Nevertheless, Frans de Waal's study is exemplary in describing intra-group behavioural patterns and their interdependency. He brilliantly shows how important formalized ranks among chimpanzees are and what influences them. When the ranks become unclear, a dominance struggle ensues. Chimpanzees, just like humans, form coalitions (vide: Sociobiology) in order to gain power. There is a very interesting example of such a coalition between three adult males ('the triumvirate') that showcases a striking similarity to human coalitions.

Moreover, he book tackles issues such as the importance of stability and balance among the chimpanzees in the group. The human economic system, with its reciprocal transactions and centralization, is recognizable among our distant cousins, too (they exchange social favours rather than gifts). Also, chimpanzees can rationalize strategies and engage in games of social manipulations to achieve their goals, for instance, by sexual intercourse.

The biggest advantage of this book is its personal character. De Waal provides multiple examples and anecdotes, such as the Big Escape. Despite the warnings from the zoo officials, several large branches were left lying around on the ape's island. Apparently, the chimpanzees placed branches against a wall and scaled the wall. Some of them visited a restaurant that day and ate oranges and bananas.

[rachelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating narrative about social interactions and power struggles in a chimpanzee colony in a Dutch zoo.

This book is at its strongest when chronicling events dispassionately and allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions about analogues to human behavior, and weaker when the author draws heavy handed explicit comparisons and ventures into sociological studies on human gender and hierarchy. The author references Machiavelli several times, and I think this book is well read in conjunction with "The Prince."

Well worth a read for those interested in biological explanations of human nature.

[Scriptor Ignotus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended reading by an old college professor of mine; a politics professor. I never had a course with him in which he used this book, but he referred to it all the time, eliciting my interest as well as attracting the derision of other faculty members, who referred disparagingly to his love of "the chimp book." I've been out of college for a while now, but when I saw a copy in the library I knew it was finally time.

Chimpanzees are considered by many to be the species closest to mankind in terms of psychology, personality, and social structure, and the observations of this book make it easy to see why. Like humans, chimps have distinctive and very noticeable personalities which are often distinguished by their facial features. Like humans, they are social and status-conscious. Perhaps most importantly, chimps more than any other animal besides humans have a need and a capacity for both group solidarity and for the constant management and alteration of power relations within the local community, making them capable both of fierce conflict amongst themselves as well as of keeping close ranks in the face of outside threats. Much to the chagrin of hippies and feminists, who wish that our society was more like that of the bonobos, who lean towards matriarchy and resolve most of their conflicts with sex, we seem to be far more related to the alpha-male-dominated, war fighting clans of the chimpanzee, with whom we share a common evolutionary ancestry. As de Waal states, Aristotle had no idea how correct he was when he said that man is a political animal.

The book is an account of the social interactions De Waal and his team observed among a preserve of chimps at Arnhem during the 1970s. The centerpiece of the narrative, and the source of its most memorable moments, detail the power struggle between the three leading males of the group: Yeroen, Luit, and Nikkie, each of whom spends time being on both the top of the hierarchy and lower down the chain. As with human beings, chimpanzee societies are not strictly hierarchical; each member of a group exerts some level of power and influence, and as each of the leading males found out, brute force is not enough to maintain leadership. Chimps, like humans, form coalitions to overcome stronger opponents, and each successive change of leadership occurs because one of the rising male chimps forms relationships of cooperation or intimidation with the other members of the group (particularly the females), gradually leaving the alpha male isolated. For instance, Luit gains power over Yeroen, the original alpha male, in part by harassing and intimidating the females of the group whenever he sees them cooperating with Yeroen.

A good portion of the book talks about sexual relations among the chimps through the prism of power relations, as chimp sexuality is usually bound up with power and status (unlike with humans, of course). Some of the male-female interactions de Waal relates reminded me amusingly of old cartoons from the 1950s. Female chimps, for instance, will sometimes instigate a male chimp into attacking another female with whom she currently has a quarrel. She will do this by going over to the male chimp and behaving very affectionately towards him (chimps kiss each other much as humans do), while motioning in the direction of the offending female and screaming or hooting at her. When the male chimp goes to put a beatdown on the other female, the instigating female will sit back and watch. Women.

As Frans de Waal says in his conclusion, politics is older than humanity.

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Я никогда не сомневалась, что люди и шимпанзе - очень близкие родственники. Теперь я в этом мнении утвердилась еще больше. В поступках обезьян легко узнать коллизии из нашей общественной и частной жизни - поиск личной выгоды, создание коалиций, предательство ставших ненужными союзников, жестокость, и, в то же время, нежные чувства по отношению к детенышам, игры, кокетство и любопытство.
К сожалению, пока что ни язык, ни культура, ни нормы морали не увели нас далеко по пути эволюции, пока что мы еще очень похожи на наших братиков и сестричек. Остается надеяться на действие в человеческом обществе законов и коллективного разума, иначе события могут разворачиваться не совсем так, как мы бы того хотели, а так, как они развивались в этой книге (спойлер - все закончилось невесело).

[Rudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een meeslepende soap over de machtsdynamiek in een chimpansee kolonie , ( in de dierentuin ) , prachtig hoe sommige mensen erin slagen om gedrag en systeem te zien bij andere organismen , of het nu insecten , vissen , planten enz zijn , ….. mooi hoe sommige hierin een ordelijk systeem met bedoelingen zien en er op een enthousiaste , meeslepende manier kunnen over schrijven , persoonlijk zie ik het niet altijd even duidelijk maar zo een boeken helpen het zicht te verbreden en verruimen ,
Er gebeurt van alles in de kolonie, … met een nogal dramatisch einde , als Aristoteles schreef de mens is een politiek dier had ie dat ook al goed verwoord , Waarschijnlijk liggen de wortels van goed en schadelijk gedrag in de intenties waarmee / waardoor iets wordt gedaan , en bij verschillende diersoorten kunnen deze verschuilen in een dichte mist ,
5 sterren. Een soap met wat vanalles van /over gedrag ,

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If we look straight and deep into a chimpanzee's eyes, an intelligent, self-assured personality looks back at us."

The author, Frans de Waal, is a primatologist who for several years studied a colony of chimps in Arnhem zoo. Although studying them out of the wild like this is not an entirely natural setting, the zoo visitors are kept well back, and the chimps have been found to act very much like they do in the wild in most respects. In addition the setting allows them to be watched close up without danger.

We get introduced to the key players in the chimps community and feel like we are getting to know real individuals. Then the author covers their behaviour in detail. Factual but never boring or superficial.

Intelligence

Chimps behave with surprising intelligence. In the book they make several elaborate escape attempts, some successful, that require planning and co-operation.

In other chapter an ape demonstrates that lying does not require human language. Using body language alone a chimp is described acting like he does not know where some food is hidden when with the group, but later alone he runs straight for it.

Also discussed is the social intelligence hypothesis. That intelligence evolved in order to deal with increasingly complex group life of the apes. The technical inventiveness that chimps have in limited degree and humans have, is a secondary development to the need to outsmart others, detect deceptive tactics and so on. Is it therefore reasonable to suppose that humans had centralized social organization before they had material possessions with which to display their wealth and power?

Leadership

Even in the zoo colony the chimps occupied themselves with leadership battles. Chimps want to lead their colonies as the leader gets his pick of females to mate with, and is able to keep his children safe. However in order to become the leader in the first place there is months of not just physical intimidation, but political gesturing and favour giving to win support of the females and other apes in the group.

The author mentions the French phrase "Noblesse Oblige", which means that with wealth power and prestige come responsibilities. In order to keep their position at the top of the hierarchy, chimp leaders will need to help weaker chimps in disputes, keep the peace, act for justice and share the females in the group.

The way the chimps behave in the colony is really not very far removed from the way managers and executives behave in a large company in some respects!

Avoid the epilogue

Originally the book was published in 1982. I picked up a revised edition 1998 with an additional introduction and epilogue, and some edits to reflect updated theories. I recommend skipping the epilogue if you want a happy ending, because you grow attached to the individual apes and there is bad news for a couple of them that was only added in the 1998 printing once the author had time to come to terms with what happened.

In all I think it's a fascinating book, and anyone interested in where we came from should check it out. In addition it seems to be recommended reading for senators and business leaders. Hopefully my boss will not read this and groom me at work before attacking one of the other managers.

[David Olmsted · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers the introduction of a chimpanzee colony into a large Arnhem zoo habitat during the late 1970’s. Because the zoo provides food and a safe territory it is not natural environment but it allows for close observations of internal group dynamics. The core of the colony are the females with their offspring who above all seek stable peaceful internal group dynamics along with good food and secure territory. Chimps (but like humans and baboons) are unique among the great apes in that the males work together to achieve this territory control yet this cooperation is balanced by their competition for the females. This competition is the main story of this book and it is more political instead of violent relying on coalitions between two males or between a male and a larger group of females. Consequently extensive social conventions are used in this process. The potential for extreme violence is there but it is rarely expressed although an example is given at the end of the book.

The females favor those males who can keep the peace between them by threat of force even though that force is never expressed strongly by biting as it is with other males. This also seems to explain why up and coming mid-ranking males harass the females until the females show them respect. The way females keep the peace between males is by more sympathetic and more socially aware interaction. When a coalition of two males dominate the sexual privilege hierarchy they share access to the females although the females typically have ideas of their own and will sneak away with others when they can. Yet even the most dominant males are very tolerant of children and females and will even let females steal food out of their hands without a fuss. This book make a great comparison piece to another book by the same author on the similar sized Bonobo whose males do not cooperate for territoriality.

[Anabel Samani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un clásico de la etología, que, a pesar de tener más de 25 años, sigue siendo fascinante descubrir.

El autor, zoólogo y etólogo neerlandés, nos relata, de forma sencilla, el comportamiento individual (no como una masa indefinida) de un grupo de chimpancés en el parque zoológico de Arnhem. El hecho de que estos simios estuvieran en un ambiente más controlado que en el natural y en un número limitado permitió al científico, y al resto de sus compañeros, poder seguir su compartimiento con una facilidad y continuidad imposible en la naturaleza; por supuesto, también eran conscientes de que esto podría introducir cierta artificialidad. De todas formas, muchos compartimientos han sido después vistos en poblaciones salvajes.

De Waal nos muestra a los chimpancés como animales políticos, no tan diferentes de nosotros, en quienes se establecen complejas relaciones entre individuos, como formación de coaliciones, venganzas o intercambios de favores.

Un estudio que por sí mismo resulta atrayente, pero más aún al darnos cuenta de que nos permite conocernos mejor a nosotros mismos, los seres humanos.

Sin embargo, lo que me ha enseñado mi experiencia en Arnhem es que los orígenes de la política son más antiguos que la humanidad.

[Alok Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

striking similarities between apes and sapiens
this book can have wide range implication
freedom for sex is a necessity for peace within modern society
weird restriction put by the ideological and religious institutions are all reason for perverted sexual encounters observed in societies .
how rape and such equivalent crimes are not observed in apes substantiate the argument .

Politics should always be done keeping the view of tit for tat.
The imperative of reconciliation in contemporary politics is an axiom.

keep this book away from politicians they can use it as deadly as they can

[Rohini Murugan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are certain works of art, that helps you remember why you decided to do what you do, in the first place. And for someone studying primate cognition, this book was a strong kick in her neurons to reignite those motivations.

[Abe van der Slot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tijdloos

[Valeriia Arnaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Кому лень читать Мартина, тот может смело брать "Политику шимпанзе".

[Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating read, especially for people interested in politics. Whenever I hear people talk about their aspirations for the political order, the changes are often lead by an understanding of what is natural vs what is socially constructed; this book sheds some light on this.

A few questions and thoughts I have are:

1) The different forms of power seem very similar to humans. Direct power that arises through a combination of physical strength and alliances, an influence which tends to be held by the older ex-alpha chimps, material power enjoyed mainly by the females, and sexual power dominated by females (through choice) and the alpha male through (through stopping other males from having sex).

2) The utility of power. Why do the males try to take the alpha spot? Sexual monopoly clearly has an evolutionary utility but is there anything else? There are clear downsides such as exposure to being usurped and killed in the process and having to break up fights again risking their own safety. What I also found interesting on this point is the clear gender difference between the type of power that they desire. However, when there are no males at the beginning, "Mama" takes the alpha position taking on very masculine qualities. What is the benefit for her given that the sexual advantage is taken off the table? Is this why she turns Tyrannical? Relating to humans, do women take on direct power positions more so now because there is a vacuum of masculinity, is it just because we are forcing it upon society because of feminist ideology, or is it because we are more like Bonobos than chimps which have Matriarch leaders.

3) How could Luit have taken power without being quickly usurped? Was there a way based on how other chimp tribes work that Luit could have been chosen by Yeroen to succeed him when Yeroen voluntarily retired his position without a violent takeover? It would be interesting to have other chimp studies referenced here in relation to peaceful transitions of power. Given Yeroen's political skill, it seemed impossible that Luit could have kept power unless he had promoted Yeroen or Nikkie to a position that would have mitigated their ambition. How could he have done this?

4) Hereditary power - this is not really talked about in the chimp world and I think that is because the males don't know who their children are. The high ranking females's children have hereditary privileges vs other children but does this translate into adulthood? It seems the answer is a no. What about Gibbons who are monogamous? This is a knowledge gap I have. I imagine the results of hereditary power with chimps would produce more social stability, but less effective leadership and more tyrants. This would definitely explain in humans the historic desire for hereditary power. This book helps us imagine how unstable leadership was until we developed dynastic rule and then democracy. Any additional evidence from apes/monkeys on this would be appreciated.

[Kiril Valchev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Когато, преди 4-5 века, Николо Макиавели е описвал механизмите на придобиване, укрепване и задържане на властта, спокойно може да приемем, че е имал предвид и шимпанзетата, освен някакви си там Медичи и Борджии. След като прекарва 6 години (1975-81) в наблюдение на най-голямата колония шимпанзета в плен (зоологическата градина в Арнем, Холандия), де Ваал издава "Chimpanzee politics"- първата си и (може би) най-значима книга. Социална структура, комплексност и динамика на отношенията, които по нищо не отстъпват на човешките. Огледало, в което избягваме, но трябва да поглеждаме.

[Abby Flabbydabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book on a shelf in an airbnb in Washington. I was intrigued from the first line. The author succeeds in making a scientific study very readable while still teaching a lot. He writes about the Arnhem Chimpanzee colony. He talks about each chimpanzee’s personality and the specific body language cues they use to communicate. I do think it dragged on slightly in the middle and there were some generalizations about humans I would’ve liked more context for. But, overall it served to teach a lot about chimpanzee behavior and social structure, and how similar it is to us, while being an entertaining read. Laos fun pictures.

[Gala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Це була одна з кращих книг року. Не зважаючи на те, як давно вона вийшла, більшість прочитаного була для мене новиною, і приводом замислитися про власну природу (і роботу).

[Moniquilla Guajara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maravilloso ensayo.
Si te gustan los chimpancés y quieres saber más de ellos , no te puedes perder este ensayo.
Muy recomendable.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

For what it is, (a book about chimpanzees) actually quite fascinating.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in the 1970s, primatologist Frans de Waal conducted one of the first extensive studies into the social structures of chimpanzees. Chimpanzee Politics is the result, establishing facts now taken for granted, namely that chimpanzee populations are organized by rank, which for males influences how successful they are are spreading their genes. It also illustrates their startling intelligence, both social and physical; de Waal witnessed chimpanzees collaborating to overcome obstacles, like electrified wire wrapped around the base of a tree that could provide a bounty of food in leaves, as well as engaging in Machiavelli-level manipulation to increase their status within the community. Admittedly, some of this is subjective, but only some, and de Waal's ideas were confirmed by other researchers' observations of different populations, like Jane Goodall's Gombe Valley project. Chimpanzee Politics makes for fascinating reading if you've an interest in our fellow primates: de Waal's work indicates that leadership, even in a sheltered environment like the zoo enclosure in Arnhem where he did his work -- comes with responsibilities, like keeping order. Alpha males haven't simply brute-forced their way into the top of the sexing order; they're seemingly expected to protect the weak against the strong and settle disputes. de Waal also points out that leadership in a chimpanzee tribe isn't limited to brute force: he demonstrates how an older, deposed chimpanzee was able to maintain a position of immense influence by continuing playing two young contenders for the seat of power off of one another. It's rather like a game of Survivor, with less whining and more fur -- and instead of being voted off, you get beaten senseless. de Waal's study did have its limitations: the chimpanzees did not interact with other tribes, nor did they compete for food, so important aspects of the equation are missing. He did compare his experiences with those of Goodall's, however, and his general conclusions aren't at odds with those she reached in Through a Mirror

[Noelia F.R · Rating 5 out of 5]

En este libro nos encontramos con uno de los mayores clásicos de la primatología. Hallaremos un estudio en el que se analizan las personalidades de cada individuo de la colonia de chimpancés gracias al trabajo de campo e investigación del autor.

Tras presentarnos a cada uno de los Chimpancés, De Waal nos explica en tono narrativo lo que vio en situaciones de conflicto, especialmente entre los machos por la toma del poder. Explica los procesos por los que un macho alfa pierde el poder, para pasar a otro individuo y la enorme importancia de las hembras en estos procesos, las alianzas contra los machos alfas y las estrategias para mantener el poder, sus amistades y rivalidades, sus alianzas y la incertidumbre de algunas de ellas. También los actos cooperativos, de cohesión, reconciliación, comportamientos sexuales de los chimpancés, incluidas las cópulas furtivas de machos de bajo rango y hembras en estro que se ocultan del alfa, además de otras estrategias de engaño. Agregamos la planificación intencional en trabajo cooperativo como el uso de herramientas para hallar comida o cometer fugas.

En esta edición tenemos nuevas fotografías a color de los chimpancés protagonistas de esta historia, el prefacio de la 25° edición y un epílogo sobre noticias nuevas de los primates que protagonizaron lo narrado en este libro y las nuevas generaciones.

"Si definimos la política como una forma de manipulación social para conseguir y mantener posiciones influyentes, entonces la practicamos. Se manifiesta fuera del gobierno central o local: en nuestra familia, la escuela, el trabajo o reuniones sociales. Todos los días provocamos conflictos y nos vemos involucrados en disputas entre otras personas, en las que tenemos aliados y rivales y cultivamos relaciones que nos pueden ser útiles" (De Waal, 2022: 344)

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a revised version of Frans de Waal's widely read work "Chimpanzee Politics." At the outset, de Waal notes that he uses the term "politics" very consciously. He says: "If we follow Harold Lasswell's famous definition of politics as a social process determining 'who gets what, when, how,' there can be little doubt that chimpanzees engage in it. The events depicted in this volume come from the Arnhem Zoo chimpanzee colony. That itself is problematic, since chimpanzees (and other animals) in artificial environments can have their behavior altered thereby (still, similar things have happened in "the wild," so de Waal's work is probably of value and relevance).

One of the threads of this work is the ongoing triangular relationship among three adult males--Luit, Yeroen, and Nikkie. The record of their shifting alliances and the gruesome murder of one of these three later on makes telling and chilling reading.

The arc of the trio's relationship begins with Yeroen as the dominant (alpha) male. Over time, Luit began to ally with Nikkie to undermine Yeroen's authority. Finally, the coalition of Luit and Nikkie prevailed and Yeroen was dislodged as the top male in the troop. However, with time, Yeroen and Nikkie began to explore an alliance and, in the end, the two united to "overthrow" Luit, with a ghastly ending.

There is much more to this book than the slow dance among the three males, but that tale typifies the calculated behavior of chimpanzees. This is a well written and even compelling read. The problems with the artificial setting and de Waal's treatment of the chimpanzees as cost-benefit calculators may give them too-human qualities. But the arc of this book is fascinating and still worth reading years after the first version was published.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chimpanzee Politics is a narrative about the social interactions of a group of chimpanzees in a Dutch zoo monitored by primatologist Frans De Waal in the late 70s. Although chimpanzees have no verbal language, their social interactions are very complex. The majority of the book focuses on the dynamics of how alliances are forged and broken. Many of the males strive to become the alpha male, however this is not a feat that is possible without support, including the females, as even a very strong male cannot win a fight against a band of adversaries. The alpha male is in charge of keeping the peace in the group, and additionally chooses which males are allowed to mate with which females. Consequently, the lower males commonly will sneak sexual encounters with forbidden females. For example lower males will hide their erections from higher males, and females learn to keep quiet when mating with lower males. Peace is broken when a male attempts to take the throne until he succeeds or admits defeat. Peace resumes when relationships are healed between males which is often brokered by the females. Chimpanzees exhibit many social behaviors in common with humans including deceit, retaliation (often delayed until a good opportunity arises), reciprocity, and coalition building. In short, it is clear that chimpanzees possess many of the precursors and fundamentals of human social interaction.

[HD · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Jungle Intrigues to Alpha Male Allure.

It's like the OG handbook for understanding animal drama, and it's where the whole 'alpha male' thing got its start. Frans de Waal spills the beans on the power struggles, alliances, and love stories (yes, love stories!) of our chimp cousins.

Now, the term 'alpha male' didn't just pop out of thin air. It came straight from de Waal's observations of the dominant male chimp in a group. This book catapulted that phrase into the mainstream, and suddenly, we're all casually throwing it into conversations about leadership, dominance, or that guy at the gym who hogs the weights.

Chimpanzee Politics isn't just a deep dive into ape society; it's a cultural touchstone that has us rethinking our own social structures. It's like reality TV for the jungle set, and you can't help but be glued to the pages as de Waal spills the tea on chimp drama.

Conclusion: It's the OG guide to primate politics and a phrase-maker that's now part of our everyday language. A solid 5-star read.

[jg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chimp social organisation is much more intricate than you think.

Memorable quotes:
"Nikkie is the highest-ranking ape but he is completely dependent on Yeoren.
Luit is individually the most powerful. But when it comes to who can push
others aside, then Mama is the boss"

"[..] this would suggest that reciprocity among chimpanzees is governed by the
same sense of moral rightness and justice as it is among humans"

"When Aristotle referred to man as a political animal he could not know just
how near the mark he was. Our political activity seems to be a part of an
evolutionary heritage we share with our close relatives."

"If we broadly define politics as social manipulation to secure and maintain
influential positions, then politics involves every one of us."

"To compare humans with chimpanzees can be taken to be just as insulting, or
perhaps even more so, because human motives seem to become more animal as a
result"

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read other works by de Waal and really liked them. For me, this one falls a bit short in terms of enjoyability. It's impressive in many ways. The observations of the chimpanzees in the Arnhem zoo are meticulous and the conclusions de Waal draws are convincing. The chimps also come through as individuals. But the book seems more appropriate for sociologists and/or anthropologists, even if the author was aiming for readability. It probably falls a bit short of a scientific work, but it also falls short for reading pleasure. I just lost interest in the countless examinations of the relationships between the chimpanzees, and the story failed to come to life for me. Still, there are a lot of good stories in this book, and for readers with patience, it's obviously worth the journey. It just did not work for me and I was relieved when I finished it.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such an amazing classic. If you want to know about primate behavior Frans de Waal from Emory and the Yerkes Primate Center is the ultimate authority! A lot of his students and other scientists frequently work with us. At any rate, this guy has done nothing but live and breathe primates his entire life and WOW did he get this thing started! I don't even adhere to the normal rules of people primate society anymore....once you work with Chimps its Chimpanzee Politics man.....that's all there is and it exists with us as well! If you want to know about social structure and behavior this is the BIBLE in the field!

[Joe Iacovino · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great look at a chimpanzee life. De Waal notes that obviously there will be some differences in the wild versus his observations of the chimp colony at Arnhem, but the vast majority will be similar. This is an informative and enthralling look at chimp life (and none to subtly our own) among the leaders and absolutely delivers on the title with no deviation from the topic. This edition includes a heartbreaking epilogue and I highly recommend it. Simply an outstanding treatment and good observational science. Nice work.

Note: The only reason it took me so long to finish was due to my schedule lately. The book itself is an easy, enjoyable read.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that a lot of people outside of the intended field has claimed as influential. Reading it, I could see why; there are a lot of parallels between chimpanzee behavior and human behavior. Looking at chimpanzees, we see ourselves, but without all the rationalizations and justifications, making it easier to understand.

But in the end, I feel like the book may have been oversold. It was fascinating, but it wasn't anything that I hadn't read before. Maybe it was just a matter of timing. The book was written over thirty years ago, but I didn't take enough away from it to justify giving it five stars.