This review was originally published in the British Yemeni Society Journal.
Tribes in Yemen: An Anthology
Marieke Brandt (ed.)
Ebook open access here.
Tribes in Yemen: An Anthology, based on a workshop organized by Dr. Marieke Brandt in 2018, aims to rethink and update research on tribes and tribalism, reconnect the scholarly discourse with the present situation in Yemen, and provide new input to the discussion of tribalism in the Middle East, more broadly. It has achieved these objectives thanks to the distinguished scholars whose research has contributed so much to understanding tribalism in Yemen.
Dr. Brandt introduces the book with a brief discussion of the term “qabilah” or “tribe” as a social concept in the western context and how that applies to a country like Yemen with a predominantly tribal society. Elaborating on this theme, Najwa Adra explores specific aspects of Yemen tribalism (qabyalah), synthesizing multiple local understandings of tribal customary law, ethics and concepts of honor, and gender dynamics, while also addressing how modernity has affected these concepts.
Steve Caton recalls his experiences in Khawlan al-Tiyal that led him to develop his theory about how tribal power is used to build consensus and resolve disputes through discussion and engagement, in contrast to the use of power to coerce alone. Looking at the current situation it seems that unchecked coercive power is employed by all sides. Caton reminds us, however, that there was an even bloodier civil war in the 1960s which was ended through mediation. As coercion fails, his ideas, here refined, offer hope that the current conflict might be resolved through peaceful mechanisms, despite its complexity.
Paul Dresch illustrates the richness of Yemeni customary law and the extent of the diversity and flexibility which make it so enduring. Tribal law, which varies from place to place, may change according to circumstance but exhibits principles that have remained consistent for centuries.
Dr. Brandt addresses the significant issue of blood vengeance, which is challenging to manage, fuels long-lasting conflicts between the tribes, and can influence tribes’ political positions. Yet, the author also draws attention to the negative development of “freelance vengeance,” unconstrained by tribal rules and ethics when tribal authority falters, leading to the breaking of such taboos as the targeting of women and children. She also stresses the significance of blood vengeance in understanding part of the socio-political mechanisms of the current conflict.
Daniel Varisco writes about the historical importance and persistence of customary laws in regulating agriculture and sharing land and water in the northern highlands. These are now subject to the strains and stresses of the turbulence and conflict that have been affecting tribal areas since 2011, exacerbated by ecological issues such as falling water tables. This is of critical concern to the economy, both locally and nationally, and Dr. Varisco is to be commended for drawing attention to a sector that is crucial to the future of Yemen. As he notes “qabyalah can help to sustain Yemen’s agricultural system and social peace.”
Andre Gingrich reviews his and others’ research on the Munebbih tribe’s northwestern borders, which extend to the international Saudi-Yemeni border, during the critical period of establishing the modern states in the region. There was little cooperation between the state and tribes early on, but that changed as modern states needed to define and protect their international borders. His research illustrates the importance of trying to understand to what extent tribalism and tribal norms can be reconciled with the state’s interests. Managing this tribal-political relationship has undoubtedly been complicated by the fact that distinct parts of the tribe are under the control of different contending forces – one of the many drastic consequences of the war.
An interesting chapter on the Saudi-Yemeni border is written by Lisa Lenz-Ayoub, who takes a more political approach. She explores the transformation of the Yemen-Saudi border, focusing on Yemen’s northwest to illustrate the shift from a policy of engaging with local communities on both sides of the border to a more institutionalized one introduced after the Treaty of Jeddah (2000) and the militarization of the border since 2015. Today, the traddtional system of border protection is close to collapse.
Alexander Weissenburger deals with another significant issue at the center of the recent Yemeni conflict: the position of Ahl al-Bayt descendants within the tribal context after the rise to power of the Houthis, and how this contrasts with the system under the republic. He analyzes Houthi attempts to restore this hierarchy and legitimize their rule. The outcome will decide whether the tribes are willing to support the Houthis on a permanent basis.
The sole chapter that deals with a social structure outside the northern highlands is by Mikhail Rodionov, which discusses hierarchy in Hadramawt society, especially with regard to sayyids. It analyzes the political mechanisms that led first to the demolition of this hierarchy by the PDRY and then to its re-stratification after unity.
Helen Lackner with her deep knowledge and experience in Yemen rejects the oversimplification and generalization of the term “tribes,” emphasizing that a focus on tribal identity alone means ignoring other professional and political affiliations. Lackner analyzes economic and development factors that drive social change and led to the 2011 uprising. Studying the economy as a driving factor in Yemen’s social and political change is crucial to understanding the essence of these changes.
The anthology succeeds within the theoretical and geographic parameters it sets itself, yet illuminates how more scholarly attention is needed on regions in Yemen other than its northern highlands. Such an expanded scope will be able to better qualify or refine the explanatory power of the terms ‘tribe’ and ‘tribalism’ as they pertain to Middle Yemen, the Tihama, and the south, as well as the social structures of major urban centers such as Aden and Sanaʿa.