A classic and highly influential ethnography, which explores political leadership among Swat Pathans - and which emphasizes the importance of individual decision-making for wider social processes. This study describes certain aspects of the society of the Pathans of the Swat valley in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Except where other reference is given, the material on which it is based was collected by the author in the period February-November 1954.

Fredrik Barth (Author)

I. INTRODUCTION 2. GENERAL ECOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY OF SWAT 3. UNDERLYING FRAMEWORKS OF ORGANIZATION 4. NEIGHBOURHOOD, MARRIAGE AND AFFINITY 5. RELATIONS OF INEQUALITY AND AUTHORITY 6. LAND TENURE AND POLITICAL RELATIONS WITHIN LOCAL COMMUNITIES 7. AUTHORITY AND FOLLOWING OF CHIEFS 8. AUTHORITY AND FOLLOWING OF SAINTS 9. ALLIANCES AND POLITICAL BLOCS IO. HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION OF SWAT STATE II. CONCLUSION