Arab Tribalism and Urban Environments: Alternative Models of Social Organization

This article surveys the reasons that Arab tribalism, or qabaliyya, has been traditionally associated with nomadism, deserts, and rural populations. This commonplace is present not only in the West, but also in the mentality of urban dwellers in the Arab countries of the Middle East. Despite this mi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Middle East and Africa 2019-10, Vol.10 (4), p.367-377
Main Author: del Río Sánchez, Francisco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arab tribalism
Collective action
Group identity
Middle East
modern Syria
Nomadism
Preservation
Self concept
Social organization
urban social organization
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Summary:This article surveys the reasons that Arab tribalism, or qabaliyya, has been traditionally associated with nomadism, deserts, and rural populations. This commonplace is present not only in the West, but also in the mentality of urban dwellers in the Arab countries of the Middle East. Despite this misconception, it is well known that tribal people have been settled in cities and towns for decades. Building on this fact, the author argues that Arab tribes have assumed urban models of social organization in order to adapt to their relationships and assure the preservation of personal identity, protection, group solidarity and their capacity for collective action.
ISSN:2152-0844
2152-0852
DOI:10.1080/21520844.2019.1685863