Barter and Social Regeneration in the Argentinean Andes

Olivia Angé is Associate Professor in Economic Anthropology at the Université libre de Bruxelles. She specializes in the study of material circulation, agriculture, and value creation in the Andes. Since 2005, she has conducted extensive fieldwork on barter fairs in the Argentinean cordillera. She is the co-author (with David Berliner) of Anthropology and Nostalgia (Berghahn, 2014).

• List of IllustrationsAcknowledgementsIntroductionChapter 1. Household Economy in an Argentinean Highland VillageChapter 2. Historical Perspectives on Andean FairsChapter 3. The Fair: A Religious Gathering of People and GoodsChapter 4. Modalities of Transations at FairsChapter 5. Barter and the Making of SocietyConclusionReferencesIndex

“Angé’s insights are important not only for understanding non-monetary economics, but they also provide a valuable prism to understand the complex and changing nature of indigeneity in the modern world. Indeed, this ethnography highlights how the ‘acceptance’ of indigenous peoples by states that formerly sought to destroy their ways of life can come hand-in-hand with fetishisation, touristic exoticisation, and the regulation of traditional activities.” Anthropology Matters“Written in accessible and engaging prose, Olivia Angé’s recent book Barter and Social Regeneration in the Argentinean Andes is an excellent introduction to a hitherto understudied exchange -practice…While economic anthropologists should no longer be surprised by the claim that barter is social, Angé is persuasive in arguing for a more nuanced appreciation of this ‘blanket category’. Her work breathes new life and complexity into old tropes, making a strong case for barter’s continued study.” Anthropos“A subtle weaving between the clarity of theory and the richness of detail, Angé’s work has significance far beyond its regional trap- pings, and makes a powerful contribution to our understanding of the production of value at work in the medium of exchange.” Social Anthropology