Monthly Archive: March 2011

Oman – State, Tribes and Revolution 2

Oman – State, Tribes and Revolution

Simplistic views about tribal structures in the Middle East doom large in the media and blur our understanding of the current uprisings when the revolutions and concomitant transformations are discussed that take place in the Middle East. However if one looks at these societies from an anthropological perspective a different image of this social phenomenon, not typical for Middle Eastern societies alone, may arise. Based upon her research in Oman, Corien Hoek shows that in this country, state and nation building over a long period of time has thoroughly transformed the tribal organization even though tribes still constitute the back-bone of society at grass-roots level. These social formations have an important integrative function, whereby seeking consensus, and negotiating with representatives from all groups concerned are well-proofed methods and conditions for the success of authority and stability within and between the tribes. Moreover equality of the families, their leaders and the members is a guiding principle, in which the Islam has its role too.

Analyse van de Libische revolutie is vooral geen zaak voor prutsers 1

Analyse van de Libische revolutie is vooral geen zaak voor prutsers

Ik ga heus niet op die pseudo-deskundigen over de opstanden in het Midden-Oosten, maar soms verschijnen er commentaren die zo stupide zijn, zo waanzinnig flauwekul, tsja dat ik er eigenlijk juist niet op zo moeten reageren. Maar ik doe het dan toch maar over het stuk van Rob van Kan in HP/De Tijd: De Libische opstand is vooral een fundi-zaak. Het is stuk is feitelijk onjuist, hangt aan elkaar van verdachtmakingen en onlogische redeneringen.

Closing the week 12 – Featuring the Syrian Uprising 0

Closing the week 12 – Featuring the Syrian Uprising

A weekly round up of writings on the Internet, some relevant for my research, some political, some funny but all of them interesting (Dutch/English). (As usual to a large extent based upon suggestions from Dutch, other European, American and Middle Eastern readers. Thank you all.) This week featuring the uprisings in the Middle East, again, but now with a special focus on the events in Syria.

De mislukking van het anti-multiculturalisme IV – De seculiere intolerantie 2

De mislukking van het anti-multiculturalisme IV – De seculiere intolerantie

In navolging van Merkel en Cameron hebben nu ook Verhagen en Rutte gesteld dat de multiculturele samenleving mislukt is. Maar wat bedoelt men daar nu eigenlijk mee? In een serie van blogposts geef ik een schets van de maatschappelijke context waarin deze redenering opkomt en het blootleggen van de gevaarlijke cirkelredenering van het falen van de multikul. Dit is het vierde en tevens laatste deel van de serie: secularistische dwingelandij.

Egypt: After the Revolution 1

Egypt: After the Revolution

What direction will Egypt be going in the time coming? Anthropologist Samuli Schielke is once again in Egypt and talked to several people and sees contradictory developments that were already going on but that are now partly magnified and partly transformed: the reintroduction of capitalism with a major social impact, the wave of a religious conservatism that was depoliticised in the past but is now becoming openly political in the aftermath of the protests and is also part of the neoliberal system of governance. Other major points pertain to the difficult relationship between ordinary people and the state, the crisis of patriarchal authority and people claiming their voice. Interestingly Schielke also shows how revolution is an emotional state and endeavour.

De mislukking van het anti-multiculturalisme III – Post-secularisme 2

De mislukking van het anti-multiculturalisme III – Post-secularisme

In navolging van Merkel en Cameron hebben nu ook Verhagen en Rutte gesteld dat de multiculturele samenleving mislukt is. Maar wat bedoelt men daar nu eigenlijk mee? In een serie van blogposts geef ik een schets van de maatschappelijke context waarin deze redenering opkomt en het blootleggen van de gevaarlijke cirkelredenering van het falen van de multikul. Dit is deel 3: over het post-seculiere karakter van de samenleving.

Closing the week 10 – Featuring Women & Middle East Uprisings 2

Closing the week 10 – Featuring Women & Middle East Uprisings

A weekly round up of writings on the Internet, some relevant for my research, some political, some funny but all of them interesting (Dutch/English). (As usual to a large extent based upon suggestions from Dutch, other European, American and Middle Eastern readers. Thank you all.) This week featuring the uprisings in the Middle East, again, but now with a special focus on the position and role of women.