Forgiveness is melanesian for individualism - and other bad translations

Fraser, Ian G. (2008) Forgiveness is melanesian for individualism - and other bad translations. [Book Review or Scholarly Comment]

PDF Restricted to Repository staff only Download (82kB)

Abstract

Melanesia famously has a plethora of languages and cultural groups. A refrain since the various independence dates of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu has been that the multiplicity of customs frustrates any ambitious effort to legislate or otherwise formally recognise the legal elements of custom. This paper proposes a reconsideration of one of the few unifying customary features said to apply to Melanesia generally, and to distinguish it from "the West", or at least the cultures of the countries which were once colonial powers and remain culturally influential. The peoples of Melanesia are said to be communitarian as distinguished from individualistic peoples. It is here proposed that this distinction is misleading.

Item Type:	Book Review or Scholarly Comment
Additional Information:	This article was also published in the journal Revue Joridique Polynesienne, 14:43-59.
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GT Manners and customs
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts, Law and Education (FALE) > School of Law
Depositing User:	Users 24 not found.
Date Deposited:	02 Feb 2008 03:47
Last Modified:	02 Feb 2012 20:02
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/4298

Actions (login required)

View Item