1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910820537203321

Autore

Rasmussen Anders Emil

Titolo

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

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York ; ; Oxford : , : Berghahn Books, , 2015

ISBN

1-78238-782-X

Edizione

[First edition.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (210 p.)

Collana

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

Classificazione

LC 20692

Disciplina

995.8/1

Soggetti

Ethnology - Papua New Guinea

Community life - Papua New Guinea

Kinship - Papua New Guinea

Social values - Papua New Guinea

Identity (Psychology) - Papua New Guinea

Individuality - Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea Social life and customs

Papua New Guinea Ethnic relations

Papua New Guinea Emigration and immigration Social aspects

Papua New Guinea Economic conditions

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Frontmatter -- Contents -- List of Figures and Tables -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- 1 The Historical Roots of a Singaut Economy -- 2 Visible While Away -- 3 The Power of Words -- 4 It’s Never Tomorrow -- 5 The Historical Roots of Community as a Level of Organization and as a Concept -- 6 To Benefit the Community -- 7 All Things Considered -- Conclusion -- References -- Index

Sommario/riassunto

"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.