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Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. Bell & Howell Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Artxar, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 UMI' THE TRIBAL CONCEPT IN URBAN SAUDI ARABIA Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Deborah Sue Akers, M.L.S., M.A., J.D. ************************************************************************ The Ohio State University 2001 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Professor Amy Zaharlick, Advisor T Professor John Messenger / \ - ^ j Professor Stephen Dale 7 Advisor Department of Anthropology UMI Number 9999369 Copyright 2001 by Akers, Deborah Sue All rights reserved. UMI UMI Microform 9999369 Copyright 2001 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 ABSTRACT This study inquires into the consequences of modernization by examining the qabila concept and how it is expressed in the urban context. Specifically, it evaluates the persistence of the tribal {qaba ’il) concept in Saudi /Arabia as manifested in the Hejaz among Nejdi qaba 'it groups. Because the qabila has lost much of its traditional identity as a group of nomadic pastoralists in the modem Saudi State, this dissertation examines instead the social and symbolic manifestations of qaba 'il and their psychological self­ definition. In this study, I seek to answer two primary questions: How are we to define the qaba 'il (tribal) concept within the Saudi Arabian context? How is group identification maintained within the qaba 'il context? I focus on three qaba 'il that have migrated from Nejd to the Hejaz: the Beni Tamim, the Ateibah, and the Anazah. These qaba 'il faced groups of differing knowledge and customs and, ultimately, acquired an even stronger sense of group identity outside their place of origin. This research centers on the concept of “group identity”: that is, groups do not exist in isolation but in their interactions with one another. Qaba 'il boundaries in the urban setting are symbolic in that they distinguish and identify the group rather than physically demarcating a tribal territory—as used to be the case in a traditional, rural setting. ii The findings of this study have shown the following: (1 ) qaba 'il group identification, maintained through the enforcement of the ideology of the dominant society, Wahhabism, re-enforces qaba 'il religious ideology (chapter 6); (2) the qaba 'it concept in Saudi Arabia is best defined using an indigenous definition that refers to a cultural category identified contextually and situationally (chapter 7); and (3) through ascribed membership within qaba 'il families, qaba 'il values are maintained and inculcated (chapter 8). These findings indicate that understanding the qaba 'il concept as a form of group identification is essential in understanding Saudi sociocultural dynamics. In light of the reality of tribes in Saudi Arabia, antiquated notions—that tribes are primitive, that they are nomadic, and that the term “tribe” is pejorative—need to be re­ examined and reconceptualized to meet the changing contexts of tribal people throughout the world as they experience the processes of human mobility, forced relocation, and/or nationalism. This dissertation makes significant contributions to the field of anthropology and the ethnography of Saudi Arabia and, a developing area of study, the Gulf region. Ill O mankind! We created You from a single pair Of a male and a female And made you into Nations and tribes, that You may know each other — Qur^an XLIX 13 IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many have been instrumental in my completing this dissertation. I owe them my deepest gratitude. Dr. Amy Zaharlick has been most patient and steadfast in her support as I gathered my data and began the arduous task of writing it. She supervised my progress and gave me valuable feedback to think through and organize my material. My committee members, Drs. John Messenger and Stephen Dale, kindly read through my draft and helped to tighten my arguments. I also thank Dr. Anthony Walker who supervised the initial draft and encouraged me to create a most valuable comprehensive bibliography of studies in Saudi Ethnography. At the earliest stage of the conceptualization of my research topic, it was Dr. Sabra Webber who helped me see the value, rather than drawbacks, of doing research in a complex and multi-ethnic environment such as Jeddah. Dr. Mohammad Sidky reviewed my chapters on qabila religious practices and on qabila family and gave me valuable insight that helped me to shape and tighten the information about tribal culture in Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia is a wealth of friends and colleagues who allowed me into their homes and shared their culture and knowledge with me. For this, I owe more than I can say to my Saudi friends whom I have come to know over the years, for without them, this study could not have been possible. I would like to especially thank fellow expatriates in the Kingdom: Bobby Hart, Don Wood, Jon Ady, Patrick Pierard, Nicholas Pilcher, and Waqif Shah for going beyond the call of duty so that I could conduct my research. I thank Cindy Harum who typed this manuscript many times and helped me meet the graduate school formatting requirements and deadlines. Muge Galin, who helped with various stages of the proofreading and mastering the intricacies of Microsoft Word. I thank Geodie Baxter for her careful proofreading o f my final draft. Finally, I thank my parents who told me to seek out knowledge no matter where it led me. I thank my aunt who was instrumental in helping me juggle and balance home and work, allowing me the time I needed to write. I am indebted to my husband for his patience with me as I struggled with the various stages of my research, and I thank our children for allowing me to maintain my scholarly pursuits even as they had to share me from time to time with my laptop. Maa khalis hubi wa imtinani to all o f you. VI VITA 1977.....................................................B.A., Arabic, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1987.....................................................M.L.S., Middle Eastern Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1989-1991............................................Graduate Teaching Associate, Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1992..................................................... M.A., Anthropology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1992-1994............................................Overseas Program Coordinator between Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Office of the Provost, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 2000..................................................... J.D., Law, Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio PUBLICATIONS Bagader, A. M. Heinrichsdorff and D. Akers, Voices o f Change: Short Stories by Saudi Arabian Writers, Boulder, CO; Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc. (1998). D. Akers, “Reflections on Ethnographers and Ethnography of Saudi Arabia.” Bulletin o f Middle Eastern Folklore, 9(6): 9-11 (1992). V II FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Anthropology V lll TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments......................................................................................................................v V ita............................................................................................................................................vii List o f Figures......................................................................................................................... xiii Chapters: 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 1 The Problem ............................................................................................................2 Research Questions................................................................................................ 3 Theoretical Framework ..........................................................................................4