
A Tribal Order
Politics and Law in the Mountains of Yemen
Shelagh Weir(Author)
University of Texas Press
Published on 15. January 2007
Book
Hardback
410 pages
978-0-292-71423-6 (ISBN)
Description
2008 - British-Kuwait Friendship Prize in Middle Eastern Studies - British Society for Middle Eastern Studies
A Tribal Order describes the politico-legal system of Jabal Razih, a remote massif in northern Yemen inhabited by farmers and traders. Contrary to the popular image of Middle Eastern tribes as warlike, lawless, and invariably opposed to states, the tribes of Razih have stable structures of governance and elaborate laws and procedures for maintaining order and resolving conflicts with a minimum of physical violence. Razihi leaders also historically cooperated with states, provided the latter respected their customs, ideals, and interests. Weir considers this system in the context of the rugged environment and productive agricultural economy of Razih, and of centuries of continuous rule by Zaydi Muslim regimes and (latterly) the republican governments of Yemen.
The book is based on Weir's extended anthropological fieldwork on Jabal Razih, and on her detailed study of hundreds of handwritten contracts and treaties among and between the tribes and rulers of Razih. These documents provide a fascinating insight into tribal politics and law, as well as state-tribe relations, from the early seventeenth to the late twentieth century. A Tribal Order is also enriched by case histories that vividly illuminate tribal practices. Overall, this unusually wide-ranging work provides an accessible account of a remarkable Arabian society through time.
A Tribal Order describes the politico-legal system of Jabal Razih, a remote massif in northern Yemen inhabited by farmers and traders. Contrary to the popular image of Middle Eastern tribes as warlike, lawless, and invariably opposed to states, the tribes of Razih have stable structures of governance and elaborate laws and procedures for maintaining order and resolving conflicts with a minimum of physical violence. Razihi leaders also historically cooperated with states, provided the latter respected their customs, ideals, and interests. Weir considers this system in the context of the rugged environment and productive agricultural economy of Razih, and of centuries of continuous rule by Zaydi Muslim regimes and (latterly) the republican governments of Yemen.
The book is based on Weir's extended anthropological fieldwork on Jabal Razih, and on her detailed study of hundreds of handwritten contracts and treaties among and between the tribes and rulers of Razih. These documents provide a fascinating insight into tribal politics and law, as well as state-tribe relations, from the early seventeenth to the late twentieth century. A Tribal Order is also enriched by case histories that vividly illuminate tribal practices. Overall, this unusually wide-ranging work provides an accessible account of a remarkable Arabian society through time.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Austin, TX
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
853 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-292-71423-6 (9780292714236)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Shelagh Weir is a Research Associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
Content
Preface
Acknowledgments
Note on Transliteration
Currency
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part I. The Tribal System
Chapter 1. Environment and Economy
Chapter 2. Social and Political Inequality
Chapter 3. The Tribes of Razih
Chapter 4. Tribal Leadership
Chapter 5. Wider Structures and Relations
Part II. Tribal Governance
Chapter 6. Principles, Rules, and Sanctions
Chapter 7. Enforcing the Law
Chapter 8. Conflict and Violence
Part III. The State-Tribe Relationship
Chapter 9. The Qasimi Period
Chapter 10. The Hamid al-Din Period
Chapter 11. The Republican Period
Conclusions
Appendix 1. Chronology of Events Affecting Razih
Appendix 2. Catalogue of Razihi Documents
Notes
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgments
Note on Transliteration
Currency
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part I. The Tribal System
Chapter 1. Environment and Economy
Chapter 2. Social and Political Inequality
Chapter 3. The Tribes of Razih
Chapter 4. Tribal Leadership
Chapter 5. Wider Structures and Relations
Part II. Tribal Governance
Chapter 6. Principles, Rules, and Sanctions
Chapter 7. Enforcing the Law
Chapter 8. Conflict and Violence
Part III. The State-Tribe Relationship
Chapter 9. The Qasimi Period
Chapter 10. The Hamid al-Din Period
Chapter 11. The Republican Period
Conclusions
Appendix 1. Chronology of Events Affecting Razih
Appendix 2. Catalogue of Razihi Documents
Notes
Glossary
Bibliography
Index