ABSTRACT
The historical bureaucratic polities were characterized by the co-existence of "free-floating" and traditional resources, and of political forces and orientations. The rulers' effective exercise of political power was largely dependent on their ability to maintain such regulation. The policies of the rulers and political activities and organizations of the major groups were both manifestations of the two aspects of generalization of power that tended to evolve in the historical bureaucratic societies. In many primitive societies, the internal and mutual interrelationships among different groups constituted the foremost expression of the political process. This was particularly applicable when political positions and activities were not greatly differentiated from other offices and functions. However, in the historical bureaucratic societies, in comparison with less differentiated societies, the extent to which group relations were crystallized into political issues was relatively great.
