Keir Martin Bücher

The book explores the aftermath of a volcanic eruption in the Pacific island village of Matupit in 1994, focusing on the reconstruction efforts and the moral complexities of social exchanges that arise during this process. It examines how these exchanges contribute to new forms of social stratification amid globalization and post-colonial neoliberalism. Through detailed ethnographic research, the study reveals how displaced communities navigate rebuilding their lives, offering insights into the challenges of post-disaster reconstruction and development initiatives.

In 1994, the Pacific island village of Matupit was partially destroyed by a volcanic eruption. This study focuses on the subsequent reconstruction and contests over the morality of exchanges that are generative of new forms of social stratification.