Armies of Liberation

Jane Novak's blog about Yemen

A Modernizing Tribal Culture

Filed under: Yemen — by Jane Novak at 12:58 pm on Sunday, December 18, 2005

This is a very good article by David Finkel in the WaPo. It shows how the extreme poverty in Yemen (caused in the most by by rampent elite corruption) hinders the moderization of tribal culture. Tribal modernization and an end to “revenge” is opposed strongly by President Saleh as it constitues a threat to his supreme power. Also the article gives a real flavor of the hardships and obstacles facing those who are trying to help the people inYemen. There’s very little written about Yemen’s tribes that doesn’t just throw them in a box as “ungovernable.” This article breaks that streotype. I’m looking forward to parts 2 and 3.

Also it should be noted that the tribal regions have little to no electricty, running water, or health care,and the educationsl systems are in a shambles. This article says the school is a blanket. Meanwhile the 2006 budget cuts the electrity allocation by 60% and increases the military by 50%.

Update: Part 2 of the series. It really puts a face on the poverty and lack of resources. There really are no schools and no doctors.

13 Comments »

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Trackback by In Search Of Utopia

12/18/2005 @ 6:22 pm

Spreading Democracy

I read about this article on Armies of Liberation and Balloon Juice. I tend to agree with Jane and John, that this in principal is a good idea. Few would argue that encouraging democratic ideas in Islamic states is a…

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Trackback by Isaac Schrödinger

12/19/2005 @ 4:33 am

Yemeni Politics

President Saleh of Yemen has been in power for over 25 years. Here we see a glimpse of his grip:This

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Pingback by Balloon Juice

12/19/2005 @ 10:03 am

[...] Agin, the entire series is worth a read (yesterday’s installment is here). Jane at Armies of Liberation, who has some experience with Yemen, comments. [...]

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Comment by John

12/19/2005 @ 1:49 pm

I believe schools of any description (other than Koran schools) were forbidden by law until the late 1950s. It’s not at all surprising that state schools haven’t made their way to rural areas.

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Comment by Jane

12/19/2005 @ 1:59 pm

John dear, they’re not funding them. The 2006 budget doesnt make any allocation for the kids who arent in school and increases the military (which already was 25% of public expenditures) by another 50%. Maybe the tribes are resistant to moderization to some greater or lesser degree, but until theres electricity, a school, and a hospital, we wont know.

Saleh has been in power since 1978. Its time to stop talking about the 1950’s and realize he is anti-democracy and anti-development. He is pro-Saleh, not pro-Yemen.

He’s not even trying to do the right thing, except when it looks good (and then its only while the spotlight is on) or when there’s pressure (and once the pressure is off, he reverts back.)

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Comment by Jon

12/19/2005 @ 4:16 pm

This one of the better articles I have read about the realities of tribal life in northern Yemen. It gives a small glimpse into their way of life as it has been for thousands of years.

Saleh has always played each tribe against the other, even after the 30 year tribal truce signed in Marib. Tribal unity in the north is seen as a direct threat to his power. Saleh is not thought of highly in the region. He has not even started to fulfill his promises of basic human services to the area that was made after oil was dicovered. This is the reason of the mass western kidnappings in the 90’s that occurred there.

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Comment by Jane

12/19/2005 @ 8:10 pm

Its a very good series. I cant wait for tomorrow when its about Saleh.

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Comment by Jon

12/19/2005 @ 10:12 pm

But from the articles, one can see the major problems in tribal unity. Though there are some that do want the tribal wars and revenge killings to stop and do want a more lawful presense from the govt to settle the issues, there are some sheiks who only want to enrich themselves to the detriment of others. The issues of ” blood money and revenge killings ” are complex in themselves in the tribal world. It involves way more than an eye for an eye.

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Comment by Peaceful Voice

12/19/2005 @ 10:15 pm

it is remarkable series. I liked it so much. the writer has a very good sense of putting the ideas into words. Well done.
p.s. the tribes do not resist the change. on the contrary, No one wants to kill or die. this is a basic human instinct. it is the only way for them to make money and live with the minimal standards.
the observor of the Yemeni history during the begining of the 20th century (1917-1960)these areas were approximately secured but unfortunately, During the civl war in the north (1962-1970, these areas were the stage of the fierst fights between the Republicans (supported by Egypt)and the royal forces (Supported by Saudia Arabia and partly Jordan). the Egyption used to spent 1 million Dollar A day in Yemen to finance this war in the form of commissions to buy the tribes loyality. the Saudis did the same thing too (with more money spent). the result obviously is that the tribes liked this condition of instability, because they got money from both sides. So, when both parties (Republicans and Royal Forces) had the truce in 1970. the tribes were the first losers and they went against it. Guess what (No Money any more)
after that period, the Goveronments (Not only this one)ignored thier basic needs. In fact they imposed sort of isolation in fornt of the Saudi Support for those tribes (which by any means against the benefits of Yemen).

No one wants to die. they SIMPLY do not know that there is a BETTER life waiting for them outside. they do not know.

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Comment by Jane

12/19/2005 @ 10:23 pm

Jon, you are spot on. And it becomes a question again of the elite vs. the people. To whatever degree the conflicts are encouraged, someone is making money. And someone else’s brother is dieing. So we cant throw this all in a basket of “resistance to modernization” because there’s a (big) financial factor to the continued conflicts, and a (very real) political one as you mentioned before. The regime gives the propaganda that they don’t want healthcare, electricity and education. But me, I’m not buying it.

Then there’s the Saudis and their interactions with the tribes….

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Comment by Jane

12/19/2005 @ 10:29 pm

Hey peaceful guy, I didnt see you before. You were in comment moderation. I agree that no one wants to die, and I’ll add that no one want their kids illiterate, their wife to die in child birth, or the hopeless future that abounds.

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Comment by Jon

12/19/2005 @ 11:19 pm

They do want healthcare, electricity and an education. And they do know there is a better life out there. The region of Marib and Al Jawf has experienced modern life and moderate western life from the few that work for the oil companies.

Besides the regime itself, the Saudi’s have done their fair share of keeping the discord going. They paid the tribes to aggravate the regime before the border demarcation was signed. part of the agreement was that Saudi stopped paying the tribes, wether this has actually happened or not is still left to discussion.

But as far as the regime, Saleh does not want any type of unity between the tribes and will continue to play each one off the other.

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Comment by Peaceful Voice

12/20/2005 @ 2:27 am

Jon…. No doubt about it….it is not in the benefit of Saleh to unite them. But we have to look at the root of the problem and explore any further solution.
The Good thing Madrid did when dealing with them….She saw them as a solution rather than a problem (and this is what most Educated Yemenis think)….. the good thing that other failed to do is she EMPOWERED them… She let them be part of the solution…. she was fair enough with them…I really admire what she did. this is the most efficient and productive that the U.S gov. has ever invested in Yemen so far.
I strongly motivate them to keep it up…

Jane… thanks a lot for what you are doing for Yemen and Yemenis…. I hope I can meet you someday

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