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  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Crime and Custom in Savage Society

Crime and Custom in Savage Society

Malinowski, Bronislaw

Hardcover

AnthropologyGeneral Law

ISBN10: 1025578007
ISBN13: 9781025578002
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 164
Weight: 0.90
Height: 0.44 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Crime and Custom in Savage Society is a foundational work in legal anthropology that explores the complex systems of law, order, and social obligation within the Trobriand Islands of Melanesia. Written by the pioneering ethnographer Bronislaw Malinowski, this study challenges the then-prevailing notion that indigenous societies lived in a state of either lawless anarchy or blind adherence to custom. Instead, Malinowski demonstrates how social cohesion is maintained through a sophisticated network of reciprocal obligations, economic ties, and religious beliefs.

The work provides a detailed examination of how civil law functions in a society without formal courts or written statutes. By analyzing the daily lives, rituals, and conflicts of the Trobriand people, the author reveals the psychological and social forces that compel individuals to follow traditional rules. Crime and Custom in Savage Society remains a vital text for students of sociology and anthropology, offering profound insights into the universal nature of human justice and the structural foundations of community life. It is an essential read for anyone interested in the origins of legal systems and the mechanisms of social control across different cultures.

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