Social Solidarity and the Gift

249 Pages·2004·2.123 MB·English

by  Aafke E. Komter

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social solidarity and the gift
Thisbookbringstogethertwotraditionsofthinkingaboutsocialties:socio-
logicaltheoryonsolidarityandanthropologicaltheoryongiftexchange.The
purposeofthebookistoexplorehowboththeoreticaltraditionsmaycom-
pleteandenricheachother,andhowtheymayilluminatetransformations
in solidarity. The main argument, supported by empirical illustrations, is
thatatheoryofsolidarityshouldincorporatesomeofthecoreinsightsfrom
anthropologicalgifttheory.Thebookpresentsatheoreticalmodelcovering
both positive and negative – selective and excluding – aspects and conse-
quences of solidarity. It is concluded that over the past century solidarity
hasundergoneafundamentaltransformation,fromDurkheim’s“organic”
solidarity to a type of solidarity that can be called “segmented”: separate,
autonomoussocialsegmentsconnectingwithothersegments,nolongerout
ofnecessityandmutualdependencybutonthebasisofindividualchoice.
Solidarityhas,thereby,becomemorenoncommittal.
AafkeE.KomterisProfessorofSocialScienceoccupyingtheendowedchairof
ComparativeStudiesofSocialSolidarityofUtrechtUniversity,andHeadof
theDepartmentofSocialScienceatUniversityCollege,Utrecht.Herarticles
oninformalgiving,reciprocityandsolidarity,power,morality,andgender
issueshaveappearedininternationaljournalssuchasSociology,theJournal
ofMarriageandtheFamily,andtheJournalofFamilyIssues.Sheiseditorof
TheGift:AnInterdisciplinaryPerspective.

Social Solidarity and the Gift
Y
AAFKE E. KOMTER
UtrechtUniversity
  
Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo
Cambridge University Press
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Contents
Preface page ix
Introduction 1
PART I THE GIFT: MEANINGS AND MOTIVES
1 TheSocialMeaningofThings 15
ThingsandSocialRelationships 17
FourDifferentTypesofSocialRelationship 21
TheFourBasicMeaningsofGifts 26
ConflictingSocialLivesofThings 30
Things:MarkersasWellasMarksofRelationship 31
2 PatternsofGivingandReceiving 34
TheGift:EmpiricalResearch 35
PsychologicalFunctionsofGiving 43
MotivestoGive 45
PositiveFeeling 46
Insecurity 47
PowerandPrestige 47
Reciprocity,Equality 48
Self-Interest 48
Hostility,Hate,Contempt 49
Fiske’sFourModelsandtheMotivestoGive 50
v
Contents
OffensiveandEmbarrassingGifts 52
TheDebtBalance:SourceofRelationalRisks 53
3 TheAnatomyofGratitude 56
TheSpiritoftheGift 58
TheRecipientoftheGift 64
Gratitude,Reciprocity,andCulture 67
Gratitude:TheMoralMemoryofMankind 67
Gratitude,Power,Dependence 69
GratitudeDissected 71
4 Women,Gifts,andPower 76
EmpiricalResearchonWomen’sGiftGiving 81
PresentsandMoneyGifts 82
Hospitality 83
CareandHelp 83
BloodandOrgans 84
FourModelstoInterpretWomen’sGiftGiving 86
AsymmetricalReciprocityinFavorofMen 86
EquivalentReciprocity 88
AsymmetricalReciprocityinFavorofWomen 90
AlternatingAsymmetry 91
TheParadoxofFemaleGiftGiving 95
PART II SOLIDARITY AND SELECTIVITY
5 SocialTheoryandSocialTies 101
ClassicalTheory:UnityofGenerosityandSelf-Interest 103
AffectiveandInstrumentalBasesofSolidarity 103
ReciprocityandMoralityasBasesofSocialTies 108
ModernTheory:SplittingUpAffectionandUtility 112
SolidarityandRationalChoiceTheory 112
Norms,Values,andEmotionsasBasesofSolidarity 115
CombiningAnthropologicalandSociologicalTheory 116
ReciprocalObligation 116
Motives 118
Ritual 120
vi
Contents
6 Solidarity,Gifts,andExclusion 123
PositiveManifestationsofSolidarity 125
GivingMoney 125
GivingTime 126
GivingCare 129
NegativeAspectsandConsequencesofSolidarity 133
TheTwo-EdgedSwordofSolidarity 136
TheMatthewEffectofGiftGiving 138
PhilanthropicParticularism 139
InherentFailuresofSolidarity 142
7 FamilySolidarity 144
TheRelationshipbetweenGenerations 147
FamilySolidarity:EmpiricalResearch 150
DimensionsofFamilySolidarity 150
TheNatureofFamilyTies 152
IntergenerationalSolidarity:ValuesandBeliefs 155
CaringforFamily 157
TheTroubledSideofFamilySolidarity 159
Macro-andMicrosolidarity 162
FamilySolidarity:SolidbutAmbivalent 165
PART III CONTEMPORARY SOLIDARITY
8 ChangingSolidarity 169
ChangingSociety,ChangingIndividuals 171
IndividualizationandSocialTies 171
TheAssertiveSelf 173
DiversificationandUncertaintyamid
Strangers 175
GlobalizationandtheNewSociety 177
ChangesinContemporarySolidarity 179
TraditionalSolidarity 180
LocalandGlobalSolidarity 181
CivilSolidarity 184
TransformedSolidarity 187
vii