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Gift exchange as the basis of social interaction

Authors: Fomashin V.S. Published: 30.06.2020
Published in issue: #3(83)/2020  
DOI: 10.18698/2306-8477-2020-3-667  
Category: The Humanities in Technical University | Chapter: Social sciences  
Keywords: gift, exchange, M. Mauss, C. Lévi-Strauss, social ties, reciprocity, redistribution, primitive society

The paper investigates the historical, socio-economic features of the institution of gift exchange as an essential element of social interaction. It is a socioeconomic institution, where each thing received as a gift must be reimbursed with an item of equivalent or greater value, as well as gift obligations that are known and accepted by all subjects of this institution. In our research, we analyzed the genesis of the gift-exchange phenomenon and considered its various aspects, and then we explored the works of specialists on this topic. Finally, we studied the historical principles of the processes associated with gift exchange, and analyzed this institution in the context of an archaic society.


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