In the absence of the gift : new forms of value and personhood in a Papua New Guinea community / by Anders Emil Rasmussen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rasmussen, Anders Emil, author.

Series:

Pacific perspectives ; v. 5.

Pacific perspectives : studies of the European society for oceanists ; 5

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Individuality.

Identity (Psychology).

Social values.

Kinship.

Community life.

Emigration and immigration.

Social aspects.

Ethnic relations.

Papua New Guinea--Social life and customs.

Papua New Guinea.

Manners and customs.

Papua New Guinea--Ethnic relations.

Papua New Guinea--Emigration and immigration--Social aspects.

Papua New Guinea--Economic conditions.

Economic conditions.

Ethnology--Papua New Guinea.

Ethnology.

Community life--Papua New Guinea.

Kinship--Papua New Guinea.

Social values--Papua New Guinea.

Identity (Psychology)--Papua New Guinea.

Individuality--Papua New Guinea.

Economic history.

Emigration and immigration--Social aspects.

Physical Description:

x, 199 pages ; 23 cm.

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York ; Oxford : Berghahn Books, 2015.

Summary:

"By adopting ideas like 'development,' members of a Papua New Guinean community find themselves continuously negotiating what can be expected of a relative or a community member. Nearly half the people born on the remote Mbuke Islands become teachers, businessmen, or bureaucrats in urban centers, while those who stay at home ask migrant relatives 'What about me?' This detailed ethnography sheds light on remittance motivations and documents how terms like 'community' can be useful in places otherwise permeated by kinship. As the state withdraws, Mbuke people explore what social ends might be reached through involvement with the cash economy"--Provided by publisher.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781782387817

1782387811

OCLC:

896862078