Minangkabau markets: a picture of an indigenous economic system

Abstract

Das Arbeitspapier beschreibt den indonesischen Minangkabau-Markt und -Handel als Institution einer erfolgreichen Gesellschaft von Handelsleuten und Unternehmern. Das System basiert auf matrilinearen Verwandtschaftsstrukturen und ist in lokalen Gemeinden verankert. Am Minangkabau lassen sich formelle und informelle und räumliche und zeitliche Aspekte unterscheiden. Die Organisation des Marktes zeigt, wie durch die alltäglichen ökonomischen Aktivitäten das soziale Leben der Gemeinde insgesamt aufrechterhalten wird. Die Untersuchung steht im theoretischen Kontext der Ausführungen über die "eingebettete Wirtschaft" (Polanyi, Gronawetter), d.h. der Frage, wie die Ökonomie in die gesellschaftlichen Verhältnisse "eingebettet" ist. (ICA)

"For most Indonesians the Minangkabau are famous as a society of entrepreneurs. This reputation is mainly based an the Minangkabau involvement in trade (galeh) that is carried out within and beyond their own region. The author assume that an understanding of Minangkabäu culture refers not only to the Minangkabau social organization based on matrilineal kin groups, or the simultaneous use of adat (customary law) and Islamic law, or the dichotomy between the traditions of the highland area (darek) and those practiced in the coastal area (rantau), and so on, but also refers to an awareness of transformation process expressed in the so-called economic rationality and changes in social morality. Therefore, description of Minangkabau culture today should not only revolve around a structural discussion of its ideal aspects, but also focus an the practical everyday actions related to economic life that have a great impact on Minangkabau culture. The economic aspects of everyday life, as we shall see, are the most important factors shaping the psychological characteristics of the Minangkabau today. The paper will discuss the Minangkabau markets and trade that are mainly performed by the local community within the region of origin (kampuang). The purpose of this paper is to present the markets and trade as the main activity that sustains daily life and as a part of indigenous social organization of the majority of the Minangkabau who mostly live in rural areas. Hence, this activity reflects the integration of Minangkabau economic organization into the social system." (extract)