Book

Libyan politics: tribe and revolution : an account of the Zuwaya and their government

University of California Press • Berkeley • Published In 1988 • Pages: xii, 297

By: Davis, J. (John).

Abstract

This study examines the Zuwaya tribe of Western Cyrenaica (in the Districts of Ajbabiya and Kufra) since after the Popular Revolution of 1973-1974. It offers some insight, albeit in a meandering and anecdotal manner, of Bedouin adaptation to state politics. In local elections voting patterns follow lineage and tribal affiliations (political parties are illegal.) Shaikhs do political manuervering to get lineage members to head key committees. Politics seems to follow the model of the segmentary lineage system. Young cadres do not have the knowledge, authority, or political saavy of the traditional shaikhs and the state is dependent on the latter to implement its programs. For example, the decree for universal education was taken up by one shaikh who through personal connections and lobbying eventually got the community to go along. This underscores the continuing importance of women in Bedouin society in forming economic and political connections. The author discovers that in one village the core group consists of consanguinely-related women. Much of the book looks at Qaddafi's rise to power, his socialist state ideology, and the latter's correspondance to a traditional tribal ethos.

HRAF PubDate

1999

Region

Africa

Sub Region

Northern Africa

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Ian Skoggard ; 1998

Field Date

1975-1979

Coverage Date

1975-1979

Coverage Place

Western Cyrenaica, Libya

Notes

John Davis

Includes bibliographical references (p.287-291) and index

LCCN

87019241

LCSH

Bedouins