The Arab world is full of rich cultures and lifestyles that vary from modern to more traditional ways. Each lifestyle has its own expression and contribution to the Arab population overall. Therefore, it would be an understatement to categorize the Arab world as an area where there are only two geographical regions: the city and the country side as is the case of many countries today. The Arab world that we see today is a result of centuries worth of tug-of-war in between the many groups and it is only after all those phases that we see how remarkably the Arab people have been able to maintain their rich diversity. In the present, there are three main groups, namely: the Bedouins, the Villagers and the Urbanites. Although each of them possesses a diverse way of life and follow different set of cultural and traditional values, they are still are interconnected through the special bond of Islam.
The first group, which is made up of the Bedouins, is the most interesting when it comes to their challenging lifestyle. The Bedouins live in the desert, far from the main cities. To them, survival in the harsh conditions is a key issue that they deal with on a daily basis. In fact, they have skillfully adapted to theses conditions so much so that it would become very hard for them to not be able to live the way that they have always lived. This is so because they reject the upward mobility that others in such conditions would embrace. They live in the desert, raise cattle and camels, cultivate crops and most of them don’t settle down in one place but rather, keep moving. They can be classified as the nomads of Arabia. Socially, they rely more on tribal relations which include blood and “symbiotic” ties than anything else. Tribal rules and laws take precedent over the Islamic laws or Shari’a, but generally the Bedouin people accept the Islamic teachings. The value structures for which the Bedouins are famously known for include their hospitable nature, simple life, courageousness, bravery and their system of great respect and honor.
The next group, which is comprised of the villagers, has similar traits to that of the Bedouins but yet they differ in many more ways. A good example is of the fact that they value land more than the Bedouin do. One’s land is more important because their agricultural livelihood depends entirely on the relationship with the land they cultivate for survival. Land is an identity factor; it separates villagers from land-less Bedouins who have no place to call home. Socially its more like a large extended family that encourages inter marriage between families so one doesn’t have to let go of the land and property. A family’s status is determined by whether they own more land than the family next door. These powerful families usually make the laws and make sure others abide and live by it. Once again, their value structure is a continuation of what land ownership might entrust upon them like more strength, stability, continuity, and family kinship.
The third and last major group is that of the urbanites, also known as city dwellers. Their lifestyle is in great contrast to that of the Bedouins and Villagers. The city life in any country is different but what makes it specially worth mentioning is the high contrast between this group and the others. Whereas the villagers tend to live a simple more family orientated life, the city people that live in high rise buildings, have an easy life and feed their kids with “Happy Meals” are usually seen as loose canons by both Bedouins and Villagers. The urbanites have accepted this globalization so to say and have moved up the food chain and are now more in control as to what goes on in their individual lives. Socially, they are divided into neighborhoods which include more diverse culture, religion, ethnicity and race that in the end all contribute to being part of the larger community. Their values are based more on class, social and family structure. This includes merchants, professionals and impoverished masses that are all living in the same city but are still different.
When it comes to the inter connectedness of Bedouins, Villagers and Urbanites, we see cooperation and dependence. Urbanites depend on the Villagers for food items, Villagers depend on Bedouins for cattle and transportation, and Bedouins depend on Urbanites to provide them with education and health care. It is very much like a web that is entwined and strengthened by all three groups and it is this dependence on each other that holds them together.
Living in Dubai I heard stories and read in the newspapers that a certain construction project had been halted because the “Bedouins” rejected the offer to move to safer and subtle grounds. Government usually paid Bedouins money to migrate to cities as it is very hard now to fit 20% of world’s construction cranes in Dubai which is roughly the size of San Jose.
Deserts in Dubai are where most Bedouins reside and as the city of gold grows, it expects the Bedouins to adapt to what modernization has to offer. I tend to see this as over reaching and colonizing. This is something that happens everywhere, the bigger fish eats the small fish but Bedouins are an entire civilization in itself which is endangered now and steps need to be taken to help Bedouins exist with their own set of rules if they abide by the laws of the land.
I wrote this paper for my Anthropology class; Cultures of the “Middle East” and North Africa. It’s ANTH 319 at SF State and taught by Lucia Volk. This paper turned out to be better than my other papers in this class, credit goes to the proof reader who shall stay anonymous…. Ahem! Ahem!
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