Kula Ring

Kula Ring

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Kula Ring

Like any other barter trade, the Kula Ring is a type of trade transaction that majorly entails the diffusion of shell valuables between islanders located in Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. In 1922 anthropologists Bronislaw Malinowski first documented a classical text, Argonauts of the Western Pacific, which has been recently approved and improved by many other anthropologists in the latter half of the 20^th century highlighting many indigenous features from a variety of island perceptions (Bronislaw, 1922). As defined by the associate researchers, the necklaces rotate in a clockwise manner while the bracelets rotate in an anticlockwise way. The aspect of balanced reciprocity reveals itself in cases whereby shell valuables were regarded for their attraction nature, aristocratic origins and great mileage of transportation.

In addition to that, their main advantage is the valuables of the partners had a complimenting relationship that is maintained over lasting periods. The Kula Ring is also characterized by labour specialization in the various production processes. (Paul, 1922) p.100). In this processes, for instance, agricultural activities such rearing pigs, skilled fishing, farming crops such as taro and yams, are bartered in exchange of shell necklaces and crafts such as cooking utensils, baskets among other jewellery from the ocean. Groups of every practical commodity were used in the barter between the Trobriand Islanders aimed at increasing efficiency. This type of exchange is an excellent example of balanced reciprocity.

On the hand, negative reciprocity is another type of barter exchange whereby traders capitalize on comparative complementing advantage on the production of various good in order for them to engage in this trading system (Damon, 1980). Some of the forms of negative reciprocity include cheating, hard bargaining, and auctioneering.

Finally, in generalized reciprocity nuclear society; thus, family and allies take part with moral responsibility being the most considerate virtue. An excellent example of this type of reciprocity is whereby adults give babysitting services and later on subsiding recreational activities for their adult kids.

References

1. Malinowski, Bronislaw (1922). Argonauts of the Western Pacific: An Account of Native Enterprise and Adventure in the Archipelagos of Melanesian New Guinea. London: Routledge & Kegan, Paul. P.100
2. Malinowski, Bronislaw (1922). Argonauts of the Western Pacific: An Account of Native Enterprise and Adventure in the Archipelagos of Melanesian New Guinea. London: Routledge & Kegan, Paul.

3.Damon, F. H. (1980). “The Kula and Generalized Exchange: Considering some Unconsidered Aspects of the Elementary Structures of Kinship”. Man (new series) 15: 278.