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The Importance Of
The Idea Of Exchange
in Anthropological
Theory
THE EXCHANGE
THEORY
The Exchange Theory
Branislaw Malinowski (1884-1942)
His famous book ‘Argonauts of the
Western Pacific’
Exchange system called Potlatch
• Marcel Mauss
His famous book ‘The Gift’
Exchange system called Kula
Malinowski and His Theory of
Exchange ‘Kula’
The Articles of Kula
Soulava Mwali
The Functions of Kula
To create ‘social alliance’
The ability to remain fit and healthy for
men
Creates good social relations between
families and friends
Increase personal confidence through
ceremonies. For ex: banishing bad luck
KULA Acc.to Malinowski, culture existed to
serve human needs. The needs of an individual conducts cultural behaviours in societies.
The main function of Kula was to create‘social alliance’.
It was creating social motivations forsocieties.
It was rooted in myth, backed bytraditional law and surrounded withmagical rites.
Economic Institution Communication System
Mauss and His Theory of
Exchange
Potlatch; a gift exchange ceremony
as kula which is in practice in
Pacific Northwest Coast of America.
The articles in exchange: Tonga
Potlatch was bringing the
honour,prestige or ‘mana’.
KULA & POTLATCH
Way of Communication
Bring Social Cohesion
Organize the Hierarchy in
Communities
Clean The Spirits of People
Represent the Power, Wealth and
Happiness
Western Commodity
Exchange Systems
Gift Exchange
Systems
Value: Supply and
Demand
Labour Force
Importance
Profit Importance
No origin
No relationships
between
objects&people
Permanent
ownership=Wealth
Value: The
Movement History of
the Objects
No Labour Force
No Profit
Origin Importance
Deep relationship
between
objects&people
No
ownership=Wealth
means to give more
Western
Commodity
Exchange
SystemsGift Exchange
Systems
Monetary
Economy,No
Trust,Contracts
Market Economy
Obligations
Individual Profit
Importance
No
Contracts,Trust
Importance.
Moral Obligations
Social
Mobilization
Importance
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT POTLATCH
SYSTEM
Economists find the system
wastefull.
Wayne Suttles and Andrew Wayda-
interpretation of potlatch.
Customs like the potlatch are cultural adaptations
to alternating periods of local abundance and shortage.
Potlatching linked villages together in
a regional economy which means an
exchange system that distributed food
and wealth from wealthy to needy
communities.
If there had been subsistence surpluses
and thus a build up of wealth over several
good years, a village could afford a
potlatch to convert its food and wealth
into prestige.
QUESTIONS
1.What is the role of gift exchange
systems on communication?
2.Can you give some examples of gift
exchange systems from modern
socities?
