The Rope of Moka
| Author | : Andrew Strathern |
| Publisher | : CUP Archive |
| Total Pages | : 280 |
| Release | : 1971-07-02 |
| ISBN-10 | : 052107987X |
| ISBN-13 | : 9780521079877 |
| Rating | : 4/5 (877 Downloads) |
Download or read book The Rope of Moka written by Andrew Strathern and published by CUP Archive. This book was released on 1971-07-02 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
