Rebel Governance and Kinship Groups in the Middle East and Africa

How do rebel governments and kin-based forms of socio-political organization shape and influence one another? This is the main question that the recently concluded Rebel Governance project sought to answer while bringing together six cases from the Middle East and Africa—from Kurdish nationalists in northern Syria, to jihadis in Mali. In this seminar, the authors, headed by project leader Dag Tuastad, will share key findings from a new special issue on the topic.

Wherever rebel-held areas are inhabited by civilian populations, remnants of the old order will be in place, such as civilian bureaucracies, religious institutions, merchant associations, local militias, and tribal mediation councils. Following the establishment of territorial control, the emerging rebel proto-state will be shaped by processes of negotiation between remaining societal forces and the insurgents. Hence, sociopolitical organization in rebel-controlled areas can only be understood if these interactions between “the preexisting” and “the incoming” orders are properly explored, including the encounter with kinship-based groups. The Rebel Governance project group has employed a wide range of methods, ranging from surveys to participant observation, in order to illuminate these encounters from different angles.

Dag Tuastad is an anthropologist and a senior lecturer at the Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages (IKOS) at the University of Oslo (UiO). He is the leader of the Rebel Governance project, a co-editor of the special issue, and will be discussing his case which revolves around Hamas’ relationship kinship groups in the Gaza Strip.

Vidar B. Skretting is a PhD candidate at FFI (Norwegian Defence Research Establishment) and the UiO, and will present his case about Tribal engagement strategies in the Islamic Emirate of Azawad / Northern Mali.

Brynjar Lia is a professor of Middle East Studies at IKOS/UiO and will present his case dealing with The Islamic State’s tribal policies in Syria and Iraq

Pinar Tank is a senior researcher based at Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and will discuss her case dealing with The Democratic Union Party (PYD) and kinship groups in Northeast Syria.

Erling L. Sogge is a senior lecturer in Middle East Studies at IKOS/UiO and a co-editor of the Rebel Governance special issue. He will discuss his case dealing with the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank, and the Fatah movement’s relationship with tribal justice.

Michael W. Skjelderup is a senior lecturer at the Norwegian Intelligence School land will present his case dealing with insurgents and kinship group authorities in Somalia's Lower Jubba province

This event is free and open to all - This event will be held in English - Coffee, tea, pastries