Social Solidarity and the Gift

Bringing together two traditions of thinking about social ties (sociological theory on solidarity and anthropological theory on gift exchange), this book explores how both traditions may complete and enrich each other, and clarifies transformations in solidarity. Supported by empirical illustrations, it assumes that a theory of solidarity should incorporate some of the core insights from anthropological gift theory. The volume presents a theoretical model covering both positive and negative--selective and excluding--aspects and consequences of solidarity.