Hierarchical states need ideology to legitimize vertical power asymmetry.

Evidence

In hierarchical societies egalitarian mutualism can regulate, at best, horizontal relations among the members of the same caste. Vertical relations, however, must be governed by entirely different norms. Moral theories and political ideologies must justify a stratified system of privileges, rights, and duties that stem from a central authority endowed with absolute power of life and death over its people. Myths and religions typically provide a touch of supernatural legitimacy to these massive asymmetries of bargaining power. — Nicolas Baumard, A mutualistic approach to morality, 448

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to Norenzayan’s ‘Big Gods’ work and the reader’s core thesis about how the Shogunate’s anti-Christian coercion weaponizes public ritual against supernatural legitimacy. — connects to: Dominant ideology recruits the dominated by neutralizing rival ideologies’ antagonism; Modes of determination allow ideological superstructures more than a residual role; Capitalist relations must be reproduced ideologically, not just economically — Hall, Stuart, Essential Essays, Volume 1, 628 (+3 more)
• DEEPTHINKING: The point that myths supply ‘supernatural legitimacy to massive asymmetries of bargaining power’ — that stratification itself forces the invention of sacred narrative — is a genuinely sharp, reusable framing that resists easy summary.

Related

• Stable domination requires legitimating ideology plus fragmentation of the ruled. (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• Dominant ideology recruits the dominated by neutralizing rival ideologies’ antagonism #corroborates (0.82)
• Power cannot self-realize but depends on societal-structural conditions for legitimacy #corroborates (0.80)
• Capitalist relations must be reproduced ideologically, not just economically #expands (0.78) — Hall, Stuart, Essential Essays, Volume 1, 628
• Modes of determination allow ideological superstructures more than a residual role #expands (0.75)
• Obligation-credit structures concentrate power in hierarchical and stratified settings. #qualifies (0.72) — Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, 92