Legal Translation between Empires The Case of Çiftlik in Serbia

Abstract

In the early 1880s, Serbia sought to abolish the Ottoman çiftlik system through the Agrarian Law, reflecting broader regional efforts to redefine property rights following the Berlin Congress of 1878. This law categorized land into gospodarluk and çiftlik, emphasizing private property in line with European legal standards, despite utilizing and then dismissing Ottoman legal principles. The Serbian government faced domestic opposition but persisted, aiming to modernize land ownership and align with European norms. This process of legal translation, driven by Serbia's inter-imperial position, highlighted inconsistencies and challenges, including resistance from çiftlik holders and the financial burdens placed on peasants. Ultimately, the reform underscored the complexities of navigating legal and cultural transitions in the Balkans, where new states balanced Ottoman legacies and European influences, often at the cost of local economic stability and social equity.

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