Barymta and social relations in traditional kazakh society

Abstract

The study of the institution of barymta (barymta is not merely the act of livestock raiding; its primary purpose was an objective pursuit of justice through the restoration of violated rights), which played a significant role in regulating socio-legal relations in Kazakh society, is largely dominated by its assessment as a source of intertribal and inter-clan conflicts, as well as an act of predatory nature. Colonial rule disrupted the internal social order and self-regulation mechanisms of Kazakh society, altering the nature and functions of barymta.
This article reconsiders barymta from a new perspective — as a moral, ethical, and legal norm — defining its place in the social organization of Kazakh society. Through a historiographical analysis of research on this issue, the article identifies the essence of the barymta institution and the causes and consequences of its transformation. The article pays special attention to the function of barymta in its initial stage as a regulated form of social control and conflict resolution within society. It analyzes its evolution — from an orderly mechanism to chaotic and criminal practices under the influence of external pressures and the disintegration of traditional social structures. Based on this analysis, conclusions are drawn about the characteristics of social relations in Kazakh society and the mechanisms of their regulation