A CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF SOCIAL LIFE IN KOSSOVO AND METOHIA: PEACE COUNCILS
Abstract
In this paper some partial results of ethnological investigations carried out in 1965-1967 are presented. The discussion is based on field research data, but also on information contained in available archival materials. It may be asked whether it is justifiable to publish results twenty years after they had been obtained. There are, however, good reasons for doing so. Firstly, the research is based on authentic material and represents a synchronic cross-section of a social phenomenon, and, secondly, the sam phenomenon still exists at present, so that the earlies results allow for diachronic perspective.
The purpose of the original investiogations was twofold. The first aim was to study the traditional social life, that is, how the social institutions of older origin funcioned within the changed socio-economic context. The second one was to study how are the new social institutions and phenomena, resulting from both conteporary conditions, and social syncretism, being formed und used.
The study focused on the so called peace council, an institution which is neither judicial nor governmental, but which partially resolves the problems that otherwise fall under their authority. Peace councils are supported by the Socialist Alliance of Working People. They began to be formed in greater numbers from the beginning of 1900s, on. Usually one village has one peace council; they are professions: its members are often the so called activists (members of the Socialist Alliance and the League of Communists). The primary funcion of peace councils is to take preventive mesures, but they also perform hearigns on disputes concerning property, borders, buhing and selling of women, bigamy, as well as many other criminal acts of lesser social danger. Charges brough by a private accuser are sufficient to start a prosecuation. In practice, peace councils, as pendants to the courts of common law, prosecuted even more serious criminal acts, such as cases of assult and battery, murder attempts and homicides.
Taking into consideration their structure, operatino and functions, peace councils are similar to the common law courts (the so called plecnia). Contemporary social needs are, by all means, responsible for their coming into existence and funcioning in today`s society. However, their very existence and their relative success in settling social disorders indicate that the efficiency of state institutions, courts especially, in inadequate. Co-existance of peace councils and common law courts point out that the traditional culture ceases to exist neither abruptly or completely. It is adapting and transforming itself; its elements are build into contemporary, “new” social institutions. Finally, this case also certifies to the well known fact that changes of the economic and political systems do not automatically induce the radical transformations of the ways of solving social contradictions and conflicts.
