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Chimpanseepolitiek
by
In 1976 brak in de chimpanseekolonie in Burgers Zoo in Arnhem een langdurige machtsstrijd uit tussen de drie sterkste mannen: Luit, Yeroen en Nikki. Frans de Waals onderzoek van dit conflict was uniek in zijn nauwkeurigheid en uitvoerigheid, en de discussie die hij met Chimpanseepolitiek heeft losgemaakt is nog altijd niet verstomd. Newt Gingrich, voormalig voorzitter van
...more
280 pages
Published
June 2010
by Olympus
(first published 1982)
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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 enclos ...more
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 enclos ...more

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
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 Neth ...more

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 conjunctio ...more
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 conjunctio ...more

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 ...more
Chimpanzees are considered by many to be the species closest to ...more

Apr 13, 2012
David Olmsted
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
animal-behavior
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 th
...more

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 ...more
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 ...more

"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 wit ...more
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 wit ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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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 elec
...more

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
...more

Feb 22, 2012
Graham
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-computer-books
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
...more

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 mar ...more
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 mar ...more

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
...more

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
...more

Nov 27, 2016
Dale
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
psychology
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 ...more
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 ...more

One of the best books I've read in months. Its very scientific and informative without being dry and too academic. I enjoyed the book on that level of curiosity about how similar we are to apes on how some so called "Human" traits are older than humans themselves. To be honest, the real reason I enjoyed this book is how like a Soap Opera it is... I got totally wrapped up in the stories of power struggles between the Alpha Males of the group and the dynasty powerful female chimps. Utterly fascina
...more

Now this is a must for managers and anyone in politics. Newt Ginwrich used to give this book to all incoming freshman to Washington. This book tells you about alliances, paranoia and how to make peace at the basic level.
If you are the boss, and you rule like a tyrant, watch your back. Someone is always ready to take you down.
Read this book and use his conclusions to modify your body language and establish alliances with others.
If you are the boss, and you rule like a tyrant, watch your back. Someone is always ready to take you down.
Read this book and use his conclusions to modify your body language and establish alliances with others.

A truly fascinating elucidation of the mechanisms of power, affinity, aggression, reconciliation, and manipulation among a colony of chimpanzees at a zoo. What struck me was the flexibility and calculation of the interactions. Socialization and learning also played a large part. Also, there was remarkable flexibility in gender roles, as particularly illustrated by the story of Mama; to say that males "naturally" rule is oversimplified.
...more

I work with chimps so its no surprise Id find this interesting. However, de Waal writes in a way that makes even non-primate oriented folk enjoy and learn. Chimps are pretty fascinating in that they seem to just incautiously DO what humans use words to describe. Often quite ugly to watch, but unavoidably recognizable.

Oct 15, 2008
Kate
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Kate by:
Ben W
The title says it all except this: chimpanzees are people who don't pretend to be civilized. It's fascinating, disturbing, and hilarious.
...more

a really enlightening book! full disclosure, I read this on recommendation from a few politicians who said it gives some insight into human behavior. I have no interest in chimpanzees in particular, but in how similar their social system is to humans and what that means to us from our "base" motives up.
Some interesting takeaways:
grooming is the most frequent social activity in chimps, and the calming affect is has on them could easily be likened to, in human relations, "emotional grooming" or s ...more
Some interesting takeaways:
grooming is the most frequent social activity in chimps, and the calming affect is has on them could easily be likened to, in human relations, "emotional grooming" or s ...more

Jul 10, 2018
Sophia
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
academic-stuff,
nature
This was a book that deserves the title of "classic", and certainly makes for a valuable read, but we've learned so much since then that the impact of the main message can appear underwhelming to the 21st century reader.
It describes the way in which a colony of chimpanzees manage to live together, essentially through the same machinations we recognize as politics. While by human standards their strategies are not exceedingly complex, you don't see anything like this to the same degree in the res ...more
It describes the way in which a colony of chimpanzees manage to live together, essentially through the same machinations we recognize as politics. While by human standards their strategies are not exceedingly complex, you don't see anything like this to the same degree in the res ...more

Let's just say I have learned an absurd amount of chimpanzee facts and I love them all and I have made it my favorite pastime to spread these fun facts to all of my loved ones. This book is structured around monkeys in a single human-controlled (basically a zoo) colony called Arnhem. There are about 20 major characters. He details how males are different from females, the hierarchy, and how the hierarchy changed over years. Additionally he includes infographics about time spent together between
...more

Jan 25, 2020
Steven Siswandhi
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
science-and-technology
Fascinating. De Waal took us on a journey similar to an anthropologist's observation of a primitive society. I can imagine how revolutionary the impact was when it first came out, turns out these chimps have sophisitcated social mechanisms, regardless of whether they understood it. My only problem is that I'm rather scientifically-inclined, I have problems with the overly anthropological ways of describing a chimp society with words relevant to human politics. What if de Waal is merely adding su
...more
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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.
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“This book [...] demonstrates something we had already suspected on the grounds of the close connection between apes and man: that the social organization of chimpanzees is almost too human to be true.”
—
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“Harold Laswell's famous definition of politics as a social process determining "who gets what, when, and how," there can be little doubt that chimpanzees engage in it. Since in both humans and their closest relatives the process involves bluff, coalitions, and isolation tactics, a common terminology is warranted.”
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