Abstract This article discusses the diplomatic practice of gift-giving in the Ancient Near East and Early Modern East Asia. In both cases, gift-exchange served to consolidate the dominant polity’s international authority. The causal relation between gift-giving and authority is typically rendered in terms of generosity inspiring gratitude, but a different mechanism connects diplomatic gift-giving and the consolidation of international authority. Diplomatic gift-giving is a ceremonial form of gift-exchange and it as a ritual practice helps maintain international authority. By means of ritualization, diplomatic gift-exchange renders international authority palatable. Ritualization enables both dominant and subordinate actors to come to terms with the ambiguity of the experience of authority. Subordinate actors are at once entranced and frightened by the authority of the dominant actor. The dominant actor feels both pride and insecurity. By defining an identity as participants in a shared ritual, by orchestrating their demeanor during ritual, and by identifying an external source of the dominant actor’s authority, diplomatic gift-giving contributes to the maintenance of international authority. The ambiguity of the experience of authority is probably irreducible. It is therefore to be expected that any case of ‘international authority’ will feature the performance of similar ritualizing practices.

中文翻译：

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送礼作为国际权威的来源

摘要 本文讨论了古代近东和近代早期东亚的送礼外交实​​践。在这两种情况下，礼物交换都有助于巩固主导政体的国际权威。送礼与权威之间的因果关系通常表现为慷慨激起感激之情，但外交送礼与巩固国际权威之间​​存在不同的机制。外交送礼是一种礼仪形式的礼物交换，它作为一种仪式实践有助于维护国际权威。通过仪式化，外交礼物交换使国际权威变得可口。仪式化使主导者和从属者都能够接受权威经验的模糊性。下属的行为者立刻被主导行为者的权威所吸引和恐惧。占主导地位的演员既感到自豪，又感到不安全。通过将身份定义为共同仪式的参与者，通过在仪式中精心安排他们的举止，以及通过确定主导行为者权威的外部来源，外交送礼有助于维护国际权威。权威经验的模糊性可能是不可减少的。因此，可以预料，任何“国际权威”的案例都会以类似的仪式化实践为特征。通过确定主导行为者权威的外部来源，外交送礼有助于维护国际权威。权威经验的模糊性可能是不可减少的。因此，可以预料，任何“国际权威”的案例都会以类似的仪式化实践为特征。通过确定主导行为者权威的外部来源，外交送礼有助于维护国际权威。权威经验的模糊性可能是不可减少的。因此，可以预料，任何“国际权威”的案例都会以类似的仪式化实践为特征。