Modern Political Ritual: Ethnography of an Inauguration and a Pilgrimage by President Mitterrand

An anthropological perspective is used to examine two rituals performed by French president Francois Mitterrand: a public inauguration & commemoration & an annual pilgrimage to the rock of Solutre. Analysis reveals that modern political rituals contain much of the formal procedure characterizing those in traditional societies, as well as a distinctly religious dimension. They involve both invention & message, which together serve to construct political legitimacy. Comments are offered by: Georges Augustins (Laboratoire d'ethnologie & de sociologie comparative, U de Paris X, Nanterre, France); Maurice Bloch (London School of Economics, England); Ralph Grillo (School of African & Asian Studies, U of Sussex, England); James Lett (Indian River Community Coll, Fort Pierce, Fla); Julian Pitt-Rivers; & Peter H. Stephenson (U of Victoria, British Columbia). In Reply, Marc Abeles responds to each comment, & discusses some concerns facing contemporary political anthropology. 27 References. Modified HA