On the impossibility of invariant repetition: ritual,tradition and creativity among Sri Lankan ritual specialists

This article sets out to explore the strategic creativity that underlies supposedly invariant ritual performance. The ethnographic focus is on a group of Sri Lankan ritual specialists and the way they present the past in terms of mythical, historical and genealogical relationships that give power and legitimacy to their performances of healing rituals in the present. The analysis brings together local notions of “tradition” with ideas of performance and embodiment. The conclusion takes up the idea that, far from being the dead weight of tradition, invariance is a performative illusion of considerable ingenuity and persuasive power. Indeed, it is a fundamental means whereby the authority and power of ritual is maximized in performance.     

Divine wrath and the conceptual coherence of the book of Nahum

Abstract:

In the recent scholarly discussion on the Book of Nahum two views stand juxtaposed: (1) The Book is a unity, written by a seventh century BCE prophet; (2) the Book as it stands is the outcome of a complex process of redaction implying a Persian period date for the final form. Starting from the final form of the book, it is concluded that, from the point of view of structural‐literary analysis, the book can be seen as unity. The redaction historical approach to the Book of Nahum assumes a distinction between lofty theological language in the hymn (Nah. 1,2–8) and the more realistic language expressing nationalistic feelings in the rest of the book. This distinction is the starting point for a literary‐critical division. However, an analysis of the theme “divine wrath” leads to the conviction that both parts of the book share a common ideology. “Wrath” in the Book of Nahum should be interpreted within the framework of covenant‐theology and as a provoked reaction. The Assyrians are depicted as the “enemies of God”. The doom that is predicted for them can be seen as God's response to their conduct. In this connection it should be observed that several allusions to ancient Near Eastern treaty clauses can be found in Nah. 2,4–3,19. This observation leads to the assumption that the relation between YHWH and the Assyrians is seen as some form of vassaldom. All these observations make a literary‐critical division less plausible. Finally, a seventh century BCE date for the composition of Nahum is proposed.     

Effects of place attachment on home return travel: a spatial perspective

Recent studies on place--mobility relationships suggest an increasing possibility that people can have multiple place attachments at varied spatial scales. Yet, our understanding of how place attachment in different spatial scales affects mobility remains limited. This study investigates home return visits by Chinese diaspora tourists from North America who have made multiple trips to China. A total of 27 in-depth interviews with repeat home return travellers were conducted. Four different types of return movements were identified: local; dispersed; local & dispersed; and second-migration locale focused. A relationship was found between the participants’ sense of place, place identity, and home return travel. The findings suggest that home return travel is more complex than previously thought. More focused sense of place and strong personal connection to ancestral homes may lead to more localized return, while a more generic sense of place (i.e. to ‘China’) and collective personal identity would result in a more dispersed travel pattern. Family migration history and strong attachment to family's first-migration destination also lead to focused return to the place. The study highlights the fact that place and place attachment are deeply personal and can evolve over time and space.     

An endogenous approach to regional economic development: The emergence of Wales

The article looks at how developments in economic theory have influenced the regional development strategy agenda in Wales. It concentrates in particular on the importance of endogenous aspects of policy in a post‐Fordist context. Such issues as the relevance of networking, learning, foreign direct investment and technology transfer are looked at and applied in the Welsh context. The role of the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) as the principal economic agent is given particular attention. The general conclusion is that the WDA has been working on the right lines in attempting to develop an endogenous offensive approach alongside its obvious past success at attracting inward investment. There is, however, a danger of national trends and political forces favouring the latter over the former.     

Book reviews

M. P. Skirdo: The People, The Army, The Commander: A Soviet View. United States Air Force, Washington, 1978, pp.166. No price given.

Harold Crouch, The Army and Politics in Indonesia. Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London, 1978.

Brian May, The Indonesian Tragedy. Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, Henley and Boston, 1975.

Helge Hveem, The Political Economy of Third World Producer Associations. Monographs from the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo, 1977.

E. L. Wheelwright and Ken Buckley, eds., Essays in the Political Economy of Australian Capitalism. Sydney: Australia and New Zealand Book Company Pty Ltd, 1978. Volume 2: pp.206. Volume 3: pp.210. $6.95 each.

Jim Hyde, Australia: The Asia Connection. Kibble Books, Melbourne, 1978, pp.140. $4.50.

David Pettit and Anne Hall, eds., Selected Readings in Australian Foreign Policy. Third edition. Sorrett, Melbourne, 1978.

B. Chakravorty, Australia's Military Alliances. Sterling Publishers, New Delhi, 1977, pp.292.

Malcolm Booker, Last Quarter: The Next Twenty‐five Years in Asia and the Pacific. Melbourne University Press, 1978, pp.228. $14.80.

Martin Wight, Power Politics. Ed. Hedley Bull and Carsten Holbraad. Leicester University Press for Royal Institute of International Affairs, 1978.