Reciprocity in Human Societies From Ancient Times to the Modern Welf
Presenting new insights into reciprocity, this book combines Marcel Mauss’s well-known gift theory with Barrington Moore’s idea of mutual obligations linking rulers and the ruled. Teasing out the interrelatedness of these approaches, Reciprocity in H
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Reciprocity in Human Societies
Antti Kujala · Mirkka Danielsbacka
Reciprocity in Human Societies From Ancient Times to the Modern Welfare State
Antti Kujala University of Helsinki Helsinki, Finland
Mirkka Danielsbacka University of Turku Turku, Finland
Translated by Jüri Kokkonen
ISBN 978-3-319-96055-5 ISBN 978-3-319-96056-2 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96056-2 Library of Congress Control Number: 2018948174 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2019 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Cover image: © Baona/iStock/Getty Images Plus This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
Preface
As long as societies have been stratified and hierarchical, there has been an unofficial reciprocal social contract of mutual obligations between rulers and subjects. In return for their contributions, taxpayers expect governments to protect them against external threats and to provide economic support in times of need. Rulers and governments neglecting their responsibilities have often suffered as a result, losing power through revolution or in elections, or the prolonged and one-sided protection of elite interests has created weak societies lagging behind others. Reciprocity in Human Societies—From Ancient Times to the Modern Welfare State describes various manifestations of reciprocity between elites and the common people. The welfare state that emerged after the Second World War is the most recent form of this universal social contract. The economic recession of 2008, however, raised doubts whether maintaining the welfare state and its services could still be afforded. Especially in the United States but also in other developed industrialized countries there are tendencies to
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