Honor, Revenge in Socio-Geographic Space of Pashtuns

Fida Mohammad, Alexander R. Thomas & Iffat Tabassum

Abstract
Honor, shame and revenge play and important social role in collectivistic
communities where either there is no formal government or they inhabit
geography that is remote, mountainous and not easily accessible. Most of the
Pashtuns live in treacherous mountain terrain and hence generally free from
governmental interference in their everyday life. In spite of outward anarchy,
there is a stable social order guided by an unwritten code of honor called
Pashtunwali. Honor and revenge are essential components of Pashtunwali
and functionally speaking keep order and conformity in Pashtun communities.

Keywords: Revenge; traditional cultures; Pakistan; Afghanistan