Rational Ritual

Michael Suk-Young Chwe is Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and the Department of Economic. New York University. He has published widely on game theory and its applications to social networks, monetary theory, collective action, minority voting rights, and physical violence.

List of Figures and Tables ix Preface xiii 1. Introduction What This Book Is Good For 3 The Argument 8 Coordination Problems 11 Common Knowledge 13 Where the Argument Comes From 16 2. Applications 19 Ceremonies and Authority 19 How Do Rituals Work? 25 Imward-Facing Circles 30 On the Waterfront 33 Believe the Hype 37 The Price of Publicity 49 Strong Links and Weak Links 61 The Chapel in the Panopticon 66 3. Elaborations 74 Competing Explanations 74 Is Common Knowledge an Impossible Ideal? 76 Meaning and Common Knowledge 79 Contesting Common Knowledge 83 Common Knowledge and Group Identity 91 4. Conclusion 94 Appendix: The Argument Expressed Diagrammatically 101 References 113 Index 127