We've been throwing this word/concept around a lot, yet according to Wikipedia Tribe and Tribalism aren't easy to define. "Considerable debate takes place over how best to characterize tribes," they say. Wordnet provides these relevant definitions:
(n) tribe, folk (a social division of (usually preliterate) people)
(n) tribe, federation of tribes (a federation (as of American Indians))
(n) kin, kin group, kinship group, kindred, clan, tribe (group of people related by blood or marriage)
I'm posting this because in the thread "Why is the Middle East So Unstable?" I introduced the word tribe but failed to be very specific about it, and it was then echoed and amplified, even to the point where Ricky called the entire state of Israel a tribe. Most recently (as of now), Ozymandias writes:
Rather than address this and related matters there, which would be a bit off-topic if we concentrate of an independent definition/understanding of the word, I figured I'd start another thread.
Here's how I put things when using the word within two of my six "Essentials for Stability" - no one has made any further effort to clarify meaning:
I'm implying that "tribe" can be an institution that has qualities that arise from more than the simple sum of the individual members. And I note that "tribe" is one of the main ways humans classify others in a negative sense, as deserving of less consideration than your fellow tribesmen.
In the Mideast there's a specific phenomenon that comports fairly well with an amalgam of the various definitions: kinship (or semi-kinship, semi-geographic) groups with a rather formal social structure, a definite identity (even to the point of tribe name being used as part of the name of individuals), and roots that often go back many, many centuries. Since we have been using the term in this context, we should probably make an effort to arrive at some agreement regarding the significance of Arab tribalism. We probably have something slightly different in mind than when we talk of tribalism in sub-Saharan Africa, or among Native Americans.
Arab tribalism is marked by a degree of provincialism/xenophobia. The tribe's ways are automatically considered better than any other ways, and members are automatically trusted more than outsiders. The more rigidity associated with these beliefs the less likely it is that tribes can cooperate or compromise, identify common values and interests, or embrace changes proposed by outsiders. Another of my six elements was globalism, which I defined as "a recognition that international relations and trade are more of a win-win situation than a zero-sum game." In the context of tribalism, just replace "international" with "inter-tribal". Picture a case where a businessman from one tribe is competing with another from the same tribe and also one from a different tribe. If the degree of "cutthroatness" differs we can attribute that to tribalism. I doubt this is a significant issue, but the zero-sum vs win-win concept is certainly applicable to Arab culture in general, not just tribal dynamics. I think that tribalism, however, exacerbates the problems that arise from the zero-sum view of interpersonal/inter-group relations.
Tribalism is not present to an equal degree all over the Arab world. It's worth noting that it's not a large factor in Palestine. Palestinians are mostly immigrants that came from all over and in a way Palestine is a sort of melting pot. Prior to 1949, in lieu of tribes, social networks were based more on clan and village. Tribal identity existed, but within that context instead of being primary. Tribalism is much stronger in North Africa and Iraq. I'm uncertain how much it's still on the peninsula. When Ibn Saud was unifying his kingdom he actively sought to dismantle tribal organizations.
Despite all the above I don't want to pretend to be an expert on tribalism. I've never read a textbook on cultural anthropology. I invite discussion of both the formal and informal meanings/definitions of "tribe" and "tribalism" so that we may all broaden our understand and achieve greater clarity of communication.
(n) tribe, folk (a social division of (usually preliterate) people)
(n) tribe, federation of tribes (a federation (as of American Indians))
(n) kin, kin group, kinship group, kindred, clan, tribe (group of people related by blood or marriage)
I'm posting this because in the thread "Why is the Middle East So Unstable?" I introduced the word tribe but failed to be very specific about it, and it was then echoed and amplified, even to the point where Ricky called the entire state of Israel a tribe. Most recently (as of now), Ozymandias writes:
Probably worth it to note that while instability in the Middle East is a combination, to a greater or less extent, of all 6 listed items, I think the strongest argument should (and has) been made for the effects of tribalism. It really is the root cause of almost all other sources of tension.
Rather than address this and related matters there, which would be a bit off-topic if we concentrate of an independent definition/understanding of the word, I figured I'd start another thread.
Here's how I put things when using the word within two of my six "Essentials for Stability" - no one has made any further effort to clarify meaning:
4) Individualism/Libertarianism (meaning - as I use it here - a sort of public philosophy and psychology that holds that humans as individuals are holders of worth, will, and rights, as opposed to clans, tribes or other institutions.)
5) Humanism (meaning - as I use it here - the widespread belief that helping your fellow man regardless of common identity of race, creed, tribe, etc. is one of the highest virtues.)
I'm implying that "tribe" can be an institution that has qualities that arise from more than the simple sum of the individual members. And I note that "tribe" is one of the main ways humans classify others in a negative sense, as deserving of less consideration than your fellow tribesmen.
In the Mideast there's a specific phenomenon that comports fairly well with an amalgam of the various definitions: kinship (or semi-kinship, semi-geographic) groups with a rather formal social structure, a definite identity (even to the point of tribe name being used as part of the name of individuals), and roots that often go back many, many centuries. Since we have been using the term in this context, we should probably make an effort to arrive at some agreement regarding the significance of Arab tribalism. We probably have something slightly different in mind than when we talk of tribalism in sub-Saharan Africa, or among Native Americans.
Arab tribalism is marked by a degree of provincialism/xenophobia. The tribe's ways are automatically considered better than any other ways, and members are automatically trusted more than outsiders. The more rigidity associated with these beliefs the less likely it is that tribes can cooperate or compromise, identify common values and interests, or embrace changes proposed by outsiders. Another of my six elements was globalism, which I defined as "a recognition that international relations and trade are more of a win-win situation than a zero-sum game." In the context of tribalism, just replace "international" with "inter-tribal". Picture a case where a businessman from one tribe is competing with another from the same tribe and also one from a different tribe. If the degree of "cutthroatness" differs we can attribute that to tribalism. I doubt this is a significant issue, but the zero-sum vs win-win concept is certainly applicable to Arab culture in general, not just tribal dynamics. I think that tribalism, however, exacerbates the problems that arise from the zero-sum view of interpersonal/inter-group relations.
Tribalism is not present to an equal degree all over the Arab world. It's worth noting that it's not a large factor in Palestine. Palestinians are mostly immigrants that came from all over and in a way Palestine is a sort of melting pot. Prior to 1949, in lieu of tribes, social networks were based more on clan and village. Tribal identity existed, but within that context instead of being primary. Tribalism is much stronger in North Africa and Iraq. I'm uncertain how much it's still on the peninsula. When Ibn Saud was unifying his kingdom he actively sought to dismantle tribal organizations.
Despite all the above I don't want to pretend to be an expert on tribalism. I've never read a textbook on cultural anthropology. I invite discussion of both the formal and informal meanings/definitions of "tribe" and "tribalism" so that we may all broaden our understand and achieve greater clarity of communication.