CONFLICT RESOLUTION MECHANISM IN BARKHAN: A CASE STUDY OF KHETRAN TRIBE, DISTRICT BARKHAN

Abstract

The current study explores the role of social structure of traditional society of Khetrans in Nahar Kot, a village located in District of Barkhan in Balochistan, Pakistan. This study has a holistic approach and focuses on the ethnographic interpretation of a Baloch community on a small scale to describe rigid social structure of that society, enabling people to support the acceptance of novel ideas. The implied and overt change observed in traditions and customs of Nahar Kot is studied by focusing on the theoretical models of economic anthropology, cultural materialism, political economy, socio-economic development, modernity, and social change. This study also found out that there are visible changes in the social structure especially hierarchal Sardari system, centralized authority, and the economic and social relations, unlike all other Baloch tribal societies. Khetran’s political organization is loosely based on centralized hierarchical system of asymmetrical patrons-client relations where sardar and other clan chiefs called Mukkadams, Mirs, and Waderas have decision making authority that is hereditary in nature and persists since time immemorial. Earlier, all decision-making related to matters of inter-clan disputes, killings due to enmity among clans, and individual disputes and other crimes were jointly decided by the chief and the heads of clans. In fact, the major forces instigating socio-economic uplift among Khetrans, include education, responsiveness, increasing contact and exposure and consciousness developed due to changes in technology, transportation, communication, infrastructure, and the geographical suitability of the region. Education has motivated the youth to avail the opportunities of employment outside Barkhan resulting in the change in social status of individuals and groups. Besides these, electronic media and virtual revolution have revolutionized the socio-economic thoughts of the people.