Middle East Focus: Political Wisdom of Qaddafi: Rambling on Political Classes and Tribes………

Arabia Deserta

Political Wisdom of Qaddafi: Rambling on Political Classes and Tribes………

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF

“The political class system is the same as a party, tribal, or sectarian system since a class dominates society in the same way that a party, tribe or sect would. Classes, like parties, sects or tribes, are groups of people within society who share common interests. Common interests arise from the existence of a group of people bound together by blood-relationship, belief, culture, locality or standard of living. Classes, parties, sects and tribes emerge because blood-relationship, social rank, economic interest, standard of living, belief, culture and locality create a common outlook to achieve a common end. Thus, social structures, in the form of classes, parties, tribes or sects, emerge. These eventually develop into political entities directed toward the realization of the goals of that group. In all cases, the people are neither the class, the party, the tribe, nor the sect, for these are no more than a segment of the people and constitute a minority. If a class, a party, a tribe, or a sect dominates a society, then the dominant system becomes a dictatorship. However, a class or a tribal coalition is preferable to a party coalition since societies originally consisted of tribal communities…………”

Interesting that Qaddafi says a "class" or "tribe" is preferable to a "party" or "coalition". He seems to start reasonably, then he veers toward the kind of logic only Arab oligarchs and despots would agree with, be they one military dictators or absolute tribal monarchs and potentates. Yet he was stating an inalienable Arab fact: that tribe, broadly defined, is more important than nation and state. Of course Qaddafi was as complex as he was simple: only he knew what he meant. Maybe he did.
Based on that, I am surprised that he did not get along with the fellow tribal ruling dynasties of the Gulf, once he had established his own dynasty. This issue of tribalism will continue to haunt Libya for some time.
Cheers
mhg

m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com