Regional overview: from diversity to multiple singularities

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    3 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Drawing on a number of ethnographic case studies this overview first discusses classical anthropological sketches of exchange, economy, governance, and politics in Melanesia. It concludes that in general Melanesian societies have been discussed in terms of their processes of reciprocity, kinship, personhood, knowledge transactions and cultural innovations. Following this brief overview, I argue that to account for recent social and cultural transformations in the region, scholarly focus should move more firmly beyond clan or language group characteristics and pay attention to emerging regional and island-based singularities. Because Christianity is often a source of inspiration for imagining such communities and nations, more attention needs to be paid to its political influence.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationThe Melanesian world
    EditorsEric Hirsch, Will Rollason
    Place of PublicationLondon ; New York
    PublisherRoutledge, Taylor and Francis Group
    Chapter7
    Pages126-139
    Number of pages14
    ISBN (Electronic)9781315529691, 9781315529684
    ISBN (Print)9781138693715
    Publication statusPublished - 2019

    Keywords

    • anthropology
    • Melanesia
    • Christianity

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Regional overview: from diversity to multiple singularities'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this