ABSTRACT
Contemporary debates about marriage across the world highlight the importance of marriage as a social institution, as well as the fact that marriage means many different things in different societies, for different people, and at different historical times. Marriage organizes the biological and social reproduction of society, connecting in the process not only individuals but also families and extended kin through affiliation. It regulates matters such as inheritance and the transfer of wealth, and it may play an important role in settling political conflicts and organizing labour. Many different practices determine who one marries, why one marries, where one lives following marriage, and how marriages can be ended, but these practices are always tied to particular social, cultural, political, and economic contexts. Marriage is an ever-changing institution that responds to transformations in society and culture.
