Etic/emic is an insightful metaphor, mr airport. These things are complicated. Even in your type example, I doubt that papuan chiefs were oblivious of the pol

Etic/emic is an insightful metaphor, mr airport. These things are complicated. Even in your type example, I doubt that papuan chiefs were oblivious of the political elements gift giving. OTOH, a purely etic viewpoint is (anthropologically) incomplete too. The political/economic machinery that outsiders/scholars find doesn't work, or make any sense, without the emic/cultural perspective. The same could be said of most political processes. The US just changed presidents. Leading up to it was weeks/months of ritual. Processes and procedures in many state chambers, and such. Most of it doesn't have a practical role, yet its culturally essential. We're often warned not to personify animals. I think more often we make the mistake of personifying people, so to speak. We always have rationalisations, but the way it works is usually after the fact... or only rational within an irrational/cultural frame. Leonard cohen said that free will is overrated. It exists but is rarely exercised. More often, we act because we are compelled. If cats were people, they'd roll in catnip because they're compelled to do so... but then cite this article and mosquitos as the "reason."