The Kula Ring of Bronislaw Malinowski: Co-evolution of an Economic and Ceremonial Exchange System

Abstract

The Kula Ring described by Bronislaw Malinowski is a system of the ceremonial exchange of gifts among a number of tribal societies inhabiting various island groups in the region east of Papua New Guinea. Two ceremonial gifts continually circulate in opposite directions: necklaces clockwise and armshells counterclockwise. After a brief description of the social system of Kula exchange, a game-theoretic interpretation of the ceremonial exchange as a signaling system for peaceful relationships, with inbuilt checks against cheating, is given. A simulation model of the starting mechanism is presented to account for the emergence and stability of the observed pattern of circular exchange of the two ceremonial gifts. Three processes are distinguished: the development of an economic trading network, the spread of peaceful relationships and the evolution of a ceremonial exchange network of Kula valuables. These processes are systematically linked to model the spontaneous emergence and co-evolution of the Kula Ring.

Human genetics of the Kula Ring: Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA variation in the Massim of Papua New Guinea

“…From the populations included in this study, the Calvados chain islands, Sudest and Rossel as well as the PNG mainland populations of Airara and Wanigela are not known to be involved in the Kula 33 and were therefore excluded from the model. Furthermore, the Laughlan Islanders, who may be only marginally involved in the Kula, 37 were excluded because of small sample size. Genetic distances appropriate for the marker type (Supplementary Table S6) were compared via Mantel testing with circular trading distances.…”

“…31 Among a number of the islands in the Milne Bay Province an extensive trading system, referred to as Kula or Kula Ring has traditionally developed. [32][33][34][35][36][37] This Kula exchange system was extensively described by anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski in his classic work 'Argonauts of the western Pacific' 33 and has since become an oft-cited anthropological example of balanced reciprocity. This particular trading system assures that items only available on some islands, for instance, because of unequal geographic distribution of natural resources, but vitally needed on other islands, are shared among people from different islands.…”

Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Climate Change Adaptation: The Sa'ban experience

“…Apart from sustaining the TEK, it also strengthens the social networks within the community and maintains the reciprocity relationship through information and resources exchange. According to Ziegler (2007), they can foster the bond among the exchange parties by creating trust. By building on this relationship, the indigenous community can have guaranteed access to resilient resources during crises.…”

“Every Tradesman Must Also Be a Merchant”: Behavioral Ecology and Household-Level Production for Barter and Trade in Premodern Economies

“…While the ritual prescriptions that guided the Kula partners in their pursuit of esteem received the most attention, it is important to note that others participated in Kula expeditions for the purpose of utilitarian barter in nonceremonial goods, food, and material items described by Malinowski as "articles of minor value, but of great utility" (1920, p. 105). In a game-theory simulation of the coevolution of these systems, Ziegler (2012) argues that the ceremonial and utilitarian aspects jointly are necessary for the system to function: the economic advantages of the utilitarian barter between villagers provides incentives to initiate and expand the development of the system, and the parallel ceremonial exchanges of the Kula partners ensure that trade was peaceful and they instilled trust in delayed trading relationships conducted over great distances. Analyzing iconographic imagery from Preclassic Izapa (Chiapas, Mexico) that often was interpreted as depicting mythic passage, Guernsey (2016) notes that they also show evidence of production, transport, and trade.…”