Kinship, Capitalism, Change: The Informal Economy of the Navajo, 1868-1995 / Edition 1

by Michael J. Francisconi

Overview

First Published in 1998. Part of the Native Americans Interdisciplinary Perspectives series, this volume looks at the informal economy of the Navajo from 1868 to 1995. In this study Dine is used in place of Navajo when referring to the people. Since 1868 three major revolutions have integrated the Dine into the world capitalist system: the establishment of military peace, resulting in political control by the U.S. Government, which then guaranteed the establishment of trading posts; the stock reduction of the 1930's, which resulted in money becoming central to economic life; and the importation of highly capital-intensive extractive industries onto the Navajo Reservation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780815331049
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/01/1997
Series:	Native Americans: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Pages:	284
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Walking in Two Worlds; Chapter 2 Theoretical Concepts and Issues of the Current Economic Crisis and People in the Periphery; Chapter 3 Historical Perspective of the Navajo Economy; Chapter 4 Articulation and Resistance; Chapter 5 Conclusions; Appendix A Interviews; Appendix B Notes on Methodology and Theory; Appendix C Tables; BIBLIOGRAPHY; Index;

Editorial Reviews

Focusing on the economic history of the Navajo, known more correctly as the Din<'e> people, this study explores how a combination of capitalism and traditional kinship economy have merged to change the lives of a people who are a part of, yet separated from, the surrounding US economy. Oral history is used to illustrate how the informal economy has evolved out of traditional Din<'e> life from 1868 to 1995. Further chapters include a review of the Marxist theories used in the study; examination of the economic history of the Din<'e>; discussion of the economy of the Navajo Nation today; and exploration of patterns of transformation and permanency in everyday life expressed in cultural traditions. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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