Home Institution
Vanderbilt University
Publication Date
Fall 2019
Abstract
Tribalism has been the fundamental organizational unit of Middle Eastern Society for thousands of years. Recently however, modern scholars have questioned the viability of tribalism in the burgeoning democratic systems of the region. This study weighs in on this debate, focusing specifically on how tribal loyalties influence the effectiveness of political parties, considered by political science researchers to be the most effective way for the people to impose their will on the government. Focusing specifically on Jordan, this research takes into account information collected from interviews with several prominent members of Jordanian political, social, and intellectual life, including the heads of several political parties and a tribal Sheikh, as well as existing research on both political parties and tribalism. It concludes that tribalism is not inherently at odds with democracy, and only hinders democratic systems, such as political parties, when tribal loyalties trump national ones.
Disciplines
Arabic Studies | Civic and Community Engagement | Islamic World and Near East History | Near and Middle Eastern Studies | Political Science | Politics and Social Change | Social and Cultural Anthropology
Recommended Citation
Lloyd, Cyrus, "The Effect of Tribalism on Political Parties" (2019). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 3154.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/3154
Included in
Arabic Studies Commons, Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Islamic World and Near East History Commons, Near and Middle Eastern Studies Commons, Political Science Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons
Program Name
Jordan: Geopolitics, International Relations, and the Future of the Middle East