TURKOMANS BETWEEN TWO EMPIRES: THE ... - Bilkent University

then between families. The Nomadic mode of life is devoid of physical constraints, such
as quarters and districts that would hold community together and organize it. Since the
physical environment of nomads is not fixed, they had to invent abstract means to fulfill
this function, which is usually nothing but kinship. As Barth put it for the Basseri,
patrilineal and affinal ties function as prominent means of social solidarity and
cooperation; and they appear to be the most effective in establishing political bonds
between tents. 143 Khazanov calls them ‘primary kin groups’. He affirms that “alongside
families there were always primary kin groups. Members of the agnatic core of the latter
frequently called themselves ‘sons of one father’ although in reality more than just
brothers were included in this core. In this instance the word ‘father’ was used in the
sense of ‘a very close ancestor’.” 144 One other uniting factor, Barth adds, forming a
herding unit with other tents that have common interest and harmony in thought and
practice. 145
Consequently, individual existence and development, in terms of both societal
and introspective means, is inhibited by strong interpersonal group relations. One might
regard these societies, as pointed above, a plasma-like entity in which individuals,
though come into sight in a certain identifiable degree, are merged into the social total.
Hence, in a tribal-nomadic society the individual can barely act independently from the
143 Barth, p. 32.
144 Khazanov, Nomads and the Outside World, p. 129.
145 Barth, p. 35. One may add the problem of security as an additional factor obliging nomads to live in a
close-knit, compact structure. They have no opportunity to built citadels or rampart around their camps or
tents. Being dispossessed of any physical protective barriers, they are continuously vulnerable to any
attack, banditry, or robbery. This physical situation leads them to form compact and cohesive social
entities. The primary bonds that supply this cohesive force come from primarily kinship ties and from
collaboration, which is based on common interest. Barth, for example, stresses the important outcomes
that originates from vulnerable situation of nomads to any attack and argues that the psychological and
social outcomes of the security problem must be examined in rather a wider plane, frame, and context. He
says, for example, the excessive fear of thieves among Basseri is reminiscent of witchcraft beliefs in many
aspects. See Barth, p. 47.
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