Originally Posted by
westprog
There may well be economic underpinnings. Most cultural practices involve some kind of economic benefit, in some way. However, that doesn't imply economic determinism. Nineteenth century Ireland, for example, had a similar patriarchal system, peasant farming and religious reverence for chastity, but such honour killings would have been very rare, and significantly, universally deprecated.
While economics is an important driving force in human affairs, it's not the only thing, unless one is a Marxist fundamentalist. Cultural norms are enormously influential.
It's quite possible that the insanity of honour killings springs from the conflict between the highly restricted world in which these people live, which nevertheless has access to the values of the West in a way never before possible.
Yes, the Irish used to prefer to send their wayward daughters away to be abused by nuns instead.