The Fetishism to Credit Money with an Intrinsic Power to Change (Invert) Society and Culture

The essay explores the multifaceted nature of modern money, questioning its role as a universal equalizer and its effects on social identities in transactions. It contrasts traditional and contemporary forms of money, examining theories from Marx and others about money's potential to flatten social distinctions and its fetishized qualities. The discussion incorporates various cultural contexts, including the Tiv economy in Nigeria and practices in Vietnam and Madagascar, suggesting that money's impact is not uniform but varies significantly based on cultural and situational factors.