A imposição da dádiva: unidade e distinção no kula melanésio

Abstract

The reciprocal relationships are relationships that are generally characterized to consist of bonds where parties form a symmetrical unit, i. e., where there is any kind of distinctive imposition in the relationship. It was precisely under this sign, that Mauss, the most important theorist of the theme, developed his theory of giving. His effort was to point the peaceful and symmetrical character that is established through this type of relationship. Thus, the goal of this Dissertation is an attempt to challenge this prevailing definition of reciprocity, which considers it as a kind of relationship forming purely peaceful bonds, whose stronghold in sociological thought is the thought of Marcel Mauss. The intention is to accomplish this challenge by analyzing the Melanesian Kula, a celebrated example of institution based on reciprocal links, through the interactionist perspective, based mainly on the reflection of Georg Simmel. As you know, the Kula can be generically defined as an expanded system of exchanges of gifts, where individuals belonging to various Melanesian communities exchange specific ceremonial objects (vaygu'a) in order to form strategic alliances with each other policies. But these kula transactions not only involve cooperation between different partners, but also a harsh dispute. Thus, to the extent that the Kula is an embodiment of the general principle of reciprocity relations, so the analysis in this example will show that there are no pure cooperation model, where the parties involved cooperate perfectly symmetrical, so that in any relationship of reciprocity should be possible to highlight elements of imposition between the parties, which means that even the bonds of reciprocity involve a certain amount of distinction and individual taxation. Therefore, this study can be characterized as a qualitative research based on secondary sources that aims to reinterpret the ethnographic description of Melanesian Kula, i. e., reconstruct the social context described by Malinowski, based on interactive theory, also offering a new way of conceiving reciprocal relationships.