The Abrek in Chechen Folklore

Abstract:     
Discusses the evolution of the Chechen abrek (social bandit) through a folkloric text published in the early decades of the twentieth century. During this period, the abrek combined a Soviet emphasis on Tsarist inequity with a more deeply-rooted sanctification of the lonely hero who was courageous enough to withstand colonial power. The abrek's suffering reveals much about the historiography of Chechen anticolonial resistance. This unique text has not been discussed before in English.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 10

Keywords: folklore, Islam, violence, colonialism, bandit, crime, sanctity, hero

Accepted Paper Series