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nomadism as a political adaptation: the case of the Yomut Turkmen 1
Author(s) -
IRONS WILLIAM
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
american ethnologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.875
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1548-1425
pISSN - 0094-0496
DOI - 10.1525/ae.1974.1.4.02a00040
Subject(s) - politics , adaptation (eye) , political economy , political science , economic system , sociology , economics , psychology , law , neuroscience
An examination of the economy and political system of the Yomut Turkmen indicates that for this group nomadism was not an adaptation to economic conditions, but rather was a means of increasing military effectiveness. A broader implication discussed briefly is that among the Yomut the pressure of endemic warfare led to a harsh form of natural selection favoring all patterns of behavior which increased military prowess.