Book

Montenegrin social organization and values: political ethnography of a refuge area tribal adaptation

AMS Press • (1) • Published In 1983 • Pages: iii, 181

By: Boehm, Christopher.

Abstract

The Montenegrins were never subjugated by the Ottoman Turks throughout the latter's occupation of the Balkans. How the Montenegrins, a segmentary tribal society, were able to maintain their autonomy against a powerful predatory state is the focus of this ethnohistorical study. Although the Montenegrins were fierce warriors living in a mountainous redoubt, they did not always choose to resist the Turks, but at times did enter into a tributary relationship with them. The decision when and when not to fight was based on a complex decision making process involving a set of some complimentary and some contradictory values: 'agnatic blood,' 'honor,' 'autonomy,' 'biological survival,' 'living well,' and 'social harmony.' These values applied to decision making at all levels of social organization, i.e., household, clan, tribe, and tribal confederations. The author shows how through these shared cultural values, and without centralized leadership, the Montenegrins were able to effectively respond to external forces in a way which insured their survival as a people over the centuries.

HRAF PubDate

1997

Region

Europe

Sub Region

Southeastern Europe

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Ian Skoggard ; 1996

Field Date

1964-1966

Coverage Date

1750-1850

Coverage Place

Serbia and Montenegro

Notes

Christopher Boehm

Includes bibliographical references (p. 162-172) and index

LCCN

77087156

LCSH

Montenegrins