The Rope of Moka: New Guinea (Study in Social Anthropology)

Author: Andrew Strathern
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Category: Sociology, Anthropology, Social & Cultural Anthropology
Book Format: Paperback

In the Mount Hagen area of central New Guinea, warfare has been replaced since the arrival of the Europeans by a vigorous development of moka, a competitive ceremonial exchange of wealth objects. The exchanges of pigs, shells and other valuables are interpreted as acting as a bond between groups, and as a means whereby individuals, notably the big-men, can maximize their status. Professor Strathern analyses the ways in which competition between big-men actually takes place, and the effects of this competition on the overall political system.

Table Of Contents
1. Introduction; 2. Groups; 3. Ceremonial grounds; 4. Warfare, alliance, and compensation; 5. Moka transactions and media of exchange; 6. Moka chains; 7. Counting pigs and shells; 8. Disputes and struggles precipitated by moka occasions; 9. Moka and the status of big-man; 10. The moka system and the behaviour of big-men; Appendices

SKU BK-9780521099578
Barcode # 9780521099578
Brand Cambridge University Press
Artist / Author Andrew Strathern
Shipping Weight 0.4000kg
Shipping Width 0.150m
Shipping Height 0.020m
Shipping Length 0.230m
Assembled Length 22.900m
Assembled Height 1.500m
Assembled Width 15.200m
Type Paperback

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