Tavtaf

Tavtaf is a term used in speculative literature and discussions of social organization to describe a form of reciprocal cooperation within a community. It does not have a standardized definition in mainstream social science and is not widely recognized as a formal concept in empirical research.

In typical depictions, a tavtaf system involves periodic cycles during which participants contribute labor, goods, or services to a common pool. In return, each member gains access to the pool’s resources when needed, creating a safety net that relies on social obligation rather than market exchange. The strength of tavtaf arrangements is often attributed to trust, shared norms, and transparent accountability.

In fiction and world-building, tavtaf is used to illustrate resilience in small communities facing resource scarcity or disruption. Variants may emphasize different forms of exchange, such as time banking, resource pooling, or collective farming, but all center on reciprocal guarantees rather than formal contracts or monetary transactions.

See also: mutual aid, reciprocal altruism, time banking, social capital.