Tribalism in the Middle East and North Africa - 1043 Words

From the Arabian Peninsula to North Africa and Sudan, there is a shared connection that binds people together, perhaps as important as religion and language. Museums throughout the Gulf exhibit lineage maps demonstrating the family trees of ruling members. Major financial institutions in Dubai and Bahrain display in their offices large maps specifying important ruling family members of the Gulf States, including their marital, government, and business affiliations (Al-Qassemi). In Libya, tribal affiliation can play an important role in securing employment and public services, in much the same way as university affiliations and networks are believed by some people to influence employment and career prospects (Hussein). Tribalism in the Middle East and North Africa still plays an important role in modern daily life. However, the role of tribalism varies. While significant distinctions exist in the nature of tribalism in Iraq and Libya, their similarities offer a basis of comparison. Much can be gained from analyzing how tribalism has manifested in these countries, both historically and at the present. Iraq and Libya are both rich in oil and increasingly urbanized countries. Both countries are also recently governed by Arab-nationalist socialist regimes. In these countries, tribal affiliations no longer have the institutional legitimacy they once did, but still have predominant societal influences. Parallels can be drawn between the Ba’athist Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq andShow MoreRelatedBy The End Of The Middle Ages, The World Of Human Civilization.898 Words   |  4 PagesBy the end of the Middle Ages, the world of human civilization was preparing to undergo massive changes in what would be considered normal living. The empires previous discussed in our lectures would begin to fall and previously shunned ideals were gaining widespread acceptance, such as common religious beliefs and practices. 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