Define 'political anthropology'.

Political anthropology is the study of power, authority, and governance within different cultures. This subfield of anthropology seeks to understand how societies organize themselves, who holds power, and the ways in which that power is challenged, maintained, or transformed. It examines the political structures within cultures, including formal institutions like governments, and informal power dynamics, such as kinship ties and social hierarchies.

By focusing on political relations and the mechanisms of social control, political anthropology provides insight into how different cultures interpret concepts like power and authority, and how these interpretations affect social dynamics and cultural practices. This understanding is crucial for analyzing various cultures' unique political systems and the implications those systems have on their social life.

The other options describe fields of study that do not focus on politics or governance. While economic systems, social rituals, and artistic expressions are important aspects of culture, they do not specifically address the core concerns of political anthropology, which centers around the organization of power and authority within societies.