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.

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