Function and change in China: Reviving Mauss’ “total social fact” to gain knowledge of changing markets

This paper attempts to revive Mauss’ concept of the total social fact as a method to establish understanding of new markets. Our case study of alcohol in China illuminates the spirit baijiu’s connections to the total social facts of guanxi and hierarchy.  We outline a methodology based on using total social facts as a heuristic device, removed from the problematic assumptions of classical functionalism.