Emergence of States in a Tribal Society Oman Under Sa'id bin Taymur, 1932-1970

by Rabi, Uzi

• ISBN13: 9781845190804
• ISBN10: 1845190807
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-10-01
• Publisher: Liverpool University Press

Summary

This book reassesses the reign of Sa'id bin Taymur, who was deposed by his son, Qabus bin Sa'id, in a coup in July 1970. Contemporary historiography of the period of Sa'id's rule (1932-1970) views Oman as medieval and isolationist; Qabus' later government is seen as progressive and enlightened, with his ascendancy to the throne often described as the 'rebirth of Oman' from its 'medieval slumber' into a thriving and prosperous Sultanate. This study refutes the prevailing view that Sa'id's four-decade reign should be perceived as a place where time stood still. The author offers a critical look at the economic, political, social and cultural aspects of Oman during the reign of Sa'id bin Taymur. The book mainly focuses on tribe-state relations, emphasizing their dynamic interaction, with particular attention paid to the relationships between the tribal groups. Uzi Rabi's book reinterprets a significant timescale in the modern history of the Arabian Peninsula and pre-oil societies, and will be essential reading for both students and scholars of Middle Eastern history, culture and society.

Author Biography

Uzi Rabi is a lecturer in the Department of Middle Eastern and African History, Tel Aviv University.

Table of Contents

List of Maps	vi
Acknowledgments	vii
A Note on Transliteration	viii
Glossary	ix
List of Abbreviations	xiii
Introduction	1	(8)
One Historical Structures in Oman	9	(38)
Two The Reign of Sa'id, 1932-1952	47	(24)
Three The Creation of the Unified Tribal State, 1955-1959	71	(58)
Four The Unified Tribal State, 1960-1964: Two Different Versions of the State	129	(54)
Five The Discovery of Oil and the Dhufar Rebellion: the End of the Unified Tribal State, November 1964 July 1970	183	(33)
Conclusion	216	(3)
Notes	219	(51)
Select Bibliography	270	(7)
Index	277