154k views
3 votes
Redistribution of wealth is achieved through reciprocity in cultural rituals such as...

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

Wealth redistribution is facilitated through cultural practices like generalized reciprocity in hunter-gatherer societies, formal taxation in state societies, tributary systems in chiefdoms like pre-European Hawaii, and balanced reciprocity in horticultural societies like the hxaro exchange among the Dobe Ju/'hoansi.

Step-by-step explanation:

Redistribution of wealth is achieved through various forms of reciprocity in cultural rituals. One form, generalized reciprocity, is exemplified by hunter-gatherer societies where resources like game or gathered foods are freely distributed among all members, ensuring a kind of egalitarian sharing.

In state societies, redistribution is more formalized and includes systems like taxation, which funds public services and infrastructure, thereby reallocating resources for the collective well-being. This method is not just about people receiving goods from the state, but rather about supporting society as a whole.

In certain agricultural societies, practices such as the potlatch system, seen in the pre-European Hawaiian chiefdoms, redistributed wealth through a social hierarchy, wherein commoners provided tributes up the chain, and in return, received government services and order.

Another example, found in horticultural societies, is balanced reciprocity, where individuals engage in a series of gift exchanges, known as hxaro, that establish mutually beneficial relationships and social ties, rather than merely transferring tangible goods.

User Mark Withers
by
8.3k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.