In the Absence of the Gift

Anders Emil Rasmussen teaches Anthropology at Aarhus University. His publications include Materialities of Passing (co-ed., Ashgate, in preparation).

• List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1. Historical Roots for a Singaut Economy Chapter 2. Visible While Away: Concepts of Vision in Exchange Practices Chapter 3. The Power of Words: Curses and Blessings of Relatives Chapter 4. It's never tomorrow: Debt, Selfishness and the Contest of Obligation Chapter 5. Historical Roots for Community as Level of Organization and as a Concept Chapter 6. - to benefit the community: Value and the Member of Community Chapter 7. All Things Considered: Organized Action as Appearances of Social Totalities Conclusion References Index

"... a very convincing case for the refiguring of our understanding of contemporary remittance motivations. Crucial to this is the focus on sharing, as opposed to formal transaction ... Also original and exciting is the emphasis on the deployment of 'community' as a crucial indigenous category of description and organization ... I have not read a better or more convincing account of the category in Melanesia." * Adam Reed, University of St. Andrews "[This book] significantly advances arguments in the discipline in a number of key areas, such as the relationship between community and individualism, the role of money, and the nature of obligation in exchange. It marks a significant contribution to our ethnographic understanding of the relationship between gifts and community building." * Keir Martin, University of Manchester