Tribes : Tribalism in the Arab World

This is an absorbing study of tribalism in the Arab world from its origins to the present.

Tribalism is fundamental to Arab life. Its origins go back to the beginning but it is also essential to any understanding of modern Arab people, in all their political and social complexity.

We usually look at tribes in Arabia through the wrong end of the telescope: we think of remote nomads irrelevant to our own concerns. And yet tribal affiliation remains an important aspect of identity for many in the cities and towns.

Cultural and social skills which are essentially tribal provide dissidents and terrorists with a competitive edge: clandestine networking in a globalized world comes easily to the tribal mentality, as we have seen with the Afghan Arabs and other emigre groups.

Tribal culture thus has impact beyond collective but local interests.

But also tribes and tribalism have a new significance and will be problematic for the reform programs many hope to see in the region.

Mark Allen is deeply influenced in his work by Mary Douglas, the pre-eminent British Anthropologist. The introductory chapter will situate this study of tribes against a wide canvas of tribalism throughout history and the world over.