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The Rope of Moka

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The Rope of Moka

The Rope of Moka

Big-men and Ceremonial Exchange in Mount Hagen New Guinea
Andrew Strathern
September 1975
Available
Paperback
9780521099578
£32.00
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Paperback
USD
eBook
    Description

    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.

    Product details

    September 1975
    Paperback
    9780521099578
    284 pages
    229 × 152 × 15 mm
    0.38kg
    Available

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    Contents

    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
      • Show more

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