Manifestations of mana

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This book examines the significance of mana in the evolution of chiefly power in the Pacific, highlighting chiefs as intermediaries between traditional and modern leadership forms, the latter defined by rationality and nation-state bureaucracy. Despite the presence of modern political figures like presidents and judges, chiefs continue to wield influence, grounded in tradition and the concept of mana, which signifies divine inspiration or energy linked to individuals, objects, and natural elements. Polynesian chiefs derive their mana from their lineage to ancient gods. The text delves into related concepts such as asymmetrical ideology, mythical social constructs, and social drama, illustrated through diverse ethnographic examples. The analysis of Tongan chieftaincy and kingship serves as a case study of the complex integration of Polynesian culture into a global framework, shaped by external forces like colonization and internal developments like state formation and democratic aspirations. This exploration, alongside other Polynesian instances, provides valuable insights into the ongoing dynamics of mana and chieftaincy amid globalization in the Pacific, reflecting both continuity and transformation.