Seminar to discuss political role of tribes in Yemen [Archives:2008/1124/Front Page]
The Yemeni Observatory for Human Rights, in cooperation with the International Development Research Center in Canada, will be holding a two-day seminar on the political role of tribes in Yemen.
The seminar, which will conclude the first phase of a joint project between the Yemeni observatory and the Canadian center, will introduce research results and existing studies on the subject, as well as form an occasion for discussion. The main themes of the seminar are: the tribe and economy, the tribe and women, institutionalising the political role of tribes, and the tribe and the state.
This partnership is part of a regional project started in July 2007 on the political role of tribes in Yemen, Iraq and Jordan, and funded by the Canadian center.
The seminar will be held at the Taj Sheba hotel on Wednesday and will include contributions and research papers from businessmen, political leaders, academics and researchers as well as civil society representatives.
The event will begin with an introduction of the project, then the first session will focus on the tribe, the state and the market. The second session concerns the experiences of political parties in dealing with tribes, and the third session is about citizenship under the co-existence of tribes and civil society.
The second day starts with a session on gender roles in the legislature, Islamic jurisdiction and tribal culture, with a second session on the representation of Parliament in a traditional society.
Political Role of Tribes: Analysis of Tribalism, Islamism and Gender in Iraq, Jordan and Yemen
The institution of the tribe continues to represent a major component of social structure throughout the Middle East, particularly in Iraq, Jordan and Yemen. Tribal relations are deeply intertwined with political relations. In a country like Yemen, for example, tribes constitute a formidable challenge to – and at times even appear stronger than – the state.
When countries such as Jordan and Yemen adopted political pluralism, the political parties that were brought into existence reflected tribal influence, some of them becoming mere extensions of tribal institutions. In Iraq, occupation by the Coalition forces provided fertile ground for the growth of tribalism, ethnicity and sectarianism. Animosity between the three main groups (Shi'a, Sunni and Kurdish) unleashed by the ousting of Saddam Hussein's regime aggravated contests for control of the country and its political organization.
The project will endeavor to understand how clans and tribes act as political units and how their participation in the political system promotes or impedes good governance and the sense of active citizenship. They will also look at the relationship between tribes and Islamism, and the impact of tribes on the participation of women in policy processes. The study is expected to result in practical recommendations for integrating tribes into a modern political system.
Partner organizations
The Yemeni Observatory for Human Rights is a non-governmental civil society organization that focuses on democracy and human rights issues in Yemen. It is active in monitoring violations against human rights and freedoms in Yemen and issues annual reports on the situation.
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is a Crown corporation created by the Canadian Parliament in 1970 to help developing countries use science and technology to find practical, long-term solutions to the social, economic, and environmental problems they face. Their support is directed toward creating a local research community whose work will build healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous societies. The IDRC believes in empowerment through knowledge.
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