Tribes and Powers in the Arab world and its periphery

Pierre Bonte analyses why, historically, the Arabs have lived in an urban o r still rural and village world; nowadays, tribes account for only a tiny m inority of the population. Nevertheless, it is still extremely interesting to examine the organisation of Arab tribes. This organisation is linked to an original kinship and marriage system which can be found in all Arab soci eties, whether tribal or not, and which endows their social and political l ife with specific characteristics, and leaves its mark on their culture.