Compensation System in Melanesian Culture and Society: Tradition, Reconciliation and Modern Challenges

  Compensation System in Melanesian Culture and Society Introduction The compensation system is an important part of traditional social life in many Melanesian communities. Long before modern courts, police systems and government institutions were introduced, communities developed their own ways of resolving disputes, restoring relationships and maintaining peace. In Melanesian societies, including Papua New Guinea, compensation has traditionally been more than a simple payment for wrongdoing. It can represent acknowledgement of harm, acceptance of responsibility, restoration of relationships, reconciliation and the rebuilding of social harmony . Compensation may involve traditional valuables, livestock, food, money, shell valuables, pigs, garden produce or other culturally important items. The form and meaning of compensation vary considerably between regions, language groups and communities. In Papua New Guinea, for example, compensation practices can be associated with disp...