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Traditional Social Institutions of the Chechens and Other Mountaineers (Reflections on the Monograph S. A. Kataeva “Chechen Taips: the Problems of Investigating the Nature, Structure and Historical Dynamics of Social Institutions of the Chechens”. Makhachk


(St. Petersburg)

DOI 10.18522/2072-0181-2015-113-120
In the Russian Caucasian studies from the time of M.M. Kovalevsky (2nd half of the 19th century) to approve idea of a greater role in the traditional social structure Chechen tribal relations. In particular, the Chechen taip until recently regarded as a kind of expansion in the period. In recent literature, a discussion on the subject of publication in the search for new interpretations are of the essay and systemic nature. S. Nataev’s monograph and a series of articles represents the most detailed attempt a new understanding of the phenomenon of Chechen Taipei. He conceptualizes the Chechen taip not as a race but as a fraternity – an association of related and unrelated groups, united by common social, economic interests and mythological kinship. Different ways of genesis of Chechen Taipei, the complex dynamics of the transformation of Chechen society in 18th – 20th centuries give research S. Nataev’s model rather eclectic character. The author discusses with S. Nataev about the genesis of the Chechen taip correlation with the processes occurring in the Adyghe, Ossetian societies and some Dagestani peoples. The etymology of the names of taips (at the vulnerability of some interpretations) shows that the Chechen society was a complex social system with a developed structure and refutes his characterization in the late medieval period and the turn of the time as a tribal. Debatable relations in Chechen society taips and other ethnic groups, some of which formed Taipei, as well as attempts to bring some social terms Chechens from the maternal clan.
S. Nataev’s monograph and the concept assessed as a serious step in the study of the traditional social structure of the Chechen society that will impact on the study of society other peoples of the Caucasus.
Caucasus studies, the Chechen taip, brotherhood, ethnography, mountain community

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