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I reckon that Vampire politics would be simpler to grasp than Lycanthrope politics, although they'd be no way easy.

For one thing, vampires only really have other vampires to "look up" to or "look down" on... They think they're above any lycanthrope.
Whereas, lycanthropes have to be wary of everyone until proven otherwise.

From the series, it seems like there are a lot more in-battles amongst the lycanthrope crowd than with the vampire crowd but it's hard to go by since there is no need for the vampires to fight each other that the stories give...

I think I've given a vague enough answer to that. smile

Ooh, I'll have to disagree.

Lycanthrope politics are based on simple things: strength and territory. A stronger lycanthrope has more authority, unless you're willing to challenge them or can find a protector who will. One pack controls a territory (at least, one of each species), and essentially that's based on strength too. A strong pack keeps its territory, a weak pack loses it. Interactions between lycanthropes are a straightforward establishment of dominance: no blood ties. Also, lycanthropes have no Council. Each pack is independent. Even so, their structure remains basically the same.

Vampire politics, on the other hand, are based on bloodlines, alliances, and power advantages, which constantly change. There isn't a set policy for every visitor to a Master's territory: weaker vamps are met with force, stronger vamps are met with respect, and vamps higher up in your bloodline put you at a disadvantage. But as vampires age, they gain new powers, changing how every other vamp should react to them (as we saw in Cerulean). Alliances are made and broken out of convenience. Plus, vampire politics are all about show and keeping your true strength hidden from your adversary. And then there's the Council, who just tend to screw everyone over.

You raise good points but I stick with my original answer.

In a vampire type situation, you know where you stand.
In a lycanthrope type situation, you're going to constantly be on rocky ground.

Sure, vampires have to do a lot with the bowing and the scraping if they think someone powerful is coming or a lot of the bluster and bravado if its someone they perceive as weaker... and they all have to understand that the council is just a royal screw up just waiting to happen... but, overall, its easier to come to the realisation that you're nothing to anyone and noone gives a s**t.

In a lycanthrope type situation, you could be the Ulfric one afternoon and food for the worms (if they've left anything of you behind) by evening. It may all be about strength and territory, but those same things are more easily overcome with the right strategies. For example, if Chimera had done his thing right (as in, he weren't crazy as a loon), he'd the boss wolf right now... a long with boss leopard, lion, bear, etc...
A vampire doesn't seem that easily overthrown.

If you're easily overthrown, then you're politics are overly complicated and unnecessary.
If it takes a lot of political maneouvering to overthrow someone, then they must be simple enough to read and anyone could do it.

My opinion. smile

Then again, it's been ages since I read any of these books and I'm going by the skin of my teeth as I type this.
I honestly don't mind if I get disagreed with, I just like typing a lot at this point. lol

Ah, but vampires are overthrown just as easily. Look at Nikolaus and Earthmover.

Granted, those were Anita's doing... but it obviously wasn't that odd of an occurence, or the Council would have come out sooner.

And you forget that the Ulfric can't just be overthrown whenever someone feels like it. According to Pack Law, a challenger must fight their way up in rank, then declare themselves Fenrir.

Although... it rather seems we're missing the point slightly. blaugh We're talking about stability, when the original question was which was easier to understand. (in which case, though I understand both, I stick with lycanthropes).

Lycanthrope is way easier its based on power and territory vamps have all the rules about animal to call and human servant and pomme de sang were the weres only worry bout there group unless they have a treaty

I think it would suck to be a were that a vamp could call. Especially if you were leader of your group like Richard or Rafael and have a vamp be able to call you. I think it would suck to be all powerful in your group but then have to deal with vamps too.

I think both have their flairs and downfalls, but when it comes to basic understanding, I think it depends entirely on one's upraising.

Vampire politics are incredibly similar to the Victorian-era, rich-people type of social structure, except status isn't determined by wealth, but instead power. If you're raised as a person that does well in a social environment, then that sort of general politics would be easy to dwell within. Take the gathering in Danse Macabre for example, it was simple for the vampires to establish who would kiss wrists, based on dominantly on power.

Lycanthrope politics are more primitive, based more on brawn than manipution and social skills. It would be simple to understand the basic laws if you had some strength, or spent a great deal of time in an environment that is less ability-oriented and more focussed on who can kick who's a**. Dominant versus submissive.

When it comes down to simplicity, I think the vampire politics is based on age-old cynicism but with a lasting need to maintain a polite mannerism. I would sooner say it's a less gory, prettied-up version of lycanthrope politics. Simply because each world shares similar standards, but lycanthropes are more blunt about everything. As I stated, it all really comes down to one's upbringing. Practicality, or politically correct manners.

Let's look at it like this - not to pick on anyone, but I'll use your point as an example, Neko. You stated that, "Lycanthrope politics are based on simple things: strength and territory." Vampire politics are based on the exact same things, just with a less physical, and more round-about way of it. If vampiric powers were plain physical skill, then you could see what I mean. Territory pertains to cities, and states (Master of the City).

I don't know, they both seem rather simple to me. One's just more.. civilized, dare I say, than the other.