article

Hamula organisation and Masha'a tenure in Palestine

Man (N.S.)21 (2) • Published In 1986 • Pages: 271-295

By: Atran, Scott.

Abstract
Based on historical sources, the author examines the Palestinian land tenure system (MASHA'A) and assesses its vulnerability to outside interference and land dispossession. The MASHA'A was a system of communal land tenure in which land was redistributed every one to five years, depending on region, in order to share risk among cultivators. Atran discusses cultivation practices and the social composition of the villages. In the second part of the article, he focuses his attention on the history of two hill villages and shows the close 'organic' relationship between village social organization and agrarian regime. He argues against claims that this system was unproductive and susceptible to land alienation.
Subjects
Real property
Acquisition and relinquishment of property
Avuncular and nepotic relatives
Clans
Community structure
culture
Palestinians
HRAF PubDate
2005
Region
Middle East
Sub Region
Middle East
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 2004
Field Date
no date
Coverage Date
1840-1944
Coverage Place
Israel and Occupied Territories
Notes
Scott Atran
Includes bibliographical references (p. 292-295)
LCCN
sf 80000548
LCSH
Palestinian Arabs