CLANSHIP
Historically the clans were autonomous political, legal, and military groups of people ruled by a chief and joined by kinship, territorial, and traditional ties.
Today, Scotland’s clans are, in the opinion of legal history professor Mark Weiner, little more than clubs.
Of Clanship and Kinship
An examination of the socio-political and socio-economic context of Clanship and related tribal and kinship systems. Beginning with a description of what a clan is and telated kinship systems, we examine the social, economic, environmental, and political factors which allow clan and kin systems to exist and flourish. The roles of individuals and families within a clan will round out the general exploration of clan systems.
Historical Context of Clans in Scotland
Of all the clan-based cultures, the clans of Scotland are the most widely known and studied. An overview of the history of Scotland from the earliest times to the present will examine how the social, economic, environmental, and political factors present in Scotland, and in particular the Highlands, allowed the clan system to develop and flourinsh, and eventually cause their demise as well.
Parallels Outside Scotland
Although the Scottish clans are the most identifiable and best known of the clan-based societies they are far from the only example. Numerous earlier and contemporary examples have existed throughout history and many still function today with varying degrees of success. We will compare relevant aspects of several other clan-based societies such as in Medievel Iceland and the modern Nuer of the Sudan.
Modern Scottish Clan Societies
The “autonomous political, legal, and military groups of people ruled by a chief and joined by kinship, territorial, and traditional ties: of medieval Scotland ceased to exist in the 18th century. The Clan Societies which developed in the 20th century hold no political, legal, or military authority but rather are typically nonprofit organizations which exist to foster social interaction and promote artistic and cultural preservation.
Have the Scottish Clans died? Or has their purpose adapted to exist in a culture where the political, legal, and military powers which they once exercised out of necessity are now controlled by the state?