Berber tribal alliance networks in pre‐colonial North Africa: the Algeriansaff, the Moroccanliffand the chessboard model of Robert Montagne

Robert Montagne is justly recognised as one of the best sociologists of the colonial period in Morocco, particularly for his work on southern Moroccan Berber society. However, his views on one aspect of social organisation, the liff alliance network (known as the saff in Tunisia and Algeria) seem to be incorrect. Unlike segmentary tribal structures, from which the liff was distinct, the alliance network was based on a dualism of opposition. They were not, however, as Montagne claimed, permanent and transitive. Indeed, evidence from elsewhere in Morocco and from Algeria suggests that the reality was far more complex than Montagne's ‘checkerboard’ alliance patterns suggest. Unfortunately, this can no longer be tested against reality.