Alienation and obligation: religion and social change in Samoa

This paper will explore social change in contemporary Samoan society with respect to the traditional expectations of the church and kinship conflicting with the modern needs of an urbanising population. In the Samoan way of life - the fa'aSamoa - religion, matai (chiefly system) and reciprocal...

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Главный автор: Thornton, Alec (Автор)
Другие авторы: Binns, Tony 1948- (Другой) ; Kerslake, Maria T. (Другой)
Формат: Print Статья
Язык:Английский
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Опубликовано: Wiley-Blackwell 2010
В: Asia Pacific viewpoint
Год: 2010, Том: 51, Выпуск: 1, Страницы: 1-16
Другие ключевые слова:B Значение
B Социокультурная перемена
B Культура (мотив)
B Урбанизация
B Церковь (мотив)
B Социоэкономическая перемена
B Samoa
B Межчеловеческие отношения (мотив)
B Экономика (мотив)
B Религия (мотив)
B Социальная перемена (мотив)
B Samoa Социальная перемена (мотив) Soziale Beziehungen Религия (мотив) Christliche Kirche Значение / Роль Religiöse Kultur Verhältnis Wirtschaft - Gesellschaft Sozioökonomische Entwicklung Социокультурная перемена Apia Urbanisierung
B Общество (мотив)
B Роль
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Итог:This paper will explore social change in contemporary Samoan society with respect to the traditional expectations of the church and kinship conflicting with the modern needs of an urbanising population. In the Samoan way of life - the fa'aSamoa - religion, matai (chiefly system) and reciprocal 'gift-giving' kinship arrangements among the aiga (extended family) are fundamental and closely related elements. However, pressures from continued integration into the global economy, the importance of remittance income and related migration of well-educated and highly skilled Samoans overseas are presenting several challenges to the strongly held traditions of kinship and church obligations. Among these challenges, low-income households are increasingly placing the material well-being of the immediate household first, thus 'opting out' of the culturally defined primary obligation to the church and risk alienation from beneficial familial ties. As a result, settlement patterns are shifting towards leaseholds in urbanising Apia, with consequences, we will speculate, that may have deeper cultural implications. Our research revealed that the church has been slow to accept that, increasingly, Samoans are seeking relief from hardships that spirituality alone cannot address. However, given its influence, strengths and resources, the church is well positioned to take a lead role in facilitating opportunities for 'bottom-up', alternative development in Samoa, as well as providing lessons for church-led participatory approaches in the Pacific Island Region. (Asia Pac Viewp/GIGA)
ISSN:1360-7456
Второстепенные работы:In: Asia Pacific viewpoint