The amusnaw and the souk in ancient Kabylia Operation and reasons of total social facts

Abstract

Starting from the idea that for Kabylia, which is in search of recognition, heritage development can allow territorial actors the construction of specific resources, this article revisits and analyses two heritages that have long structured the former kabylia society, the amusnaw and the souk, to explain their functioning and their reasons. This work shows that the amusnaw and souk have constituted in the past of Kabylia total social facts that have made it possible to make up for the absence of the State, by enveloping society entirely, assuring it several socially useful functions. This total past cannot therefore be taken up today as a simple distinctive object; it must be valued by making it live in the present, considering it as a resource that can make live in the future by allowing the creation of new resources and reviving the old commons.

Keywords: Kabylia, amusnaw, souk, total social facts, specific resources, commons, heritage development.