However, the traditional descriptions preferred by most anthropologists are not, as Dr. Al-Haddad re-emphasized, is often not practicable in Kuwait. For example, there are few language distinctions and few clothing differences among the some 40 or 50 tribes in Kuwait today.
Moreover, the traditional Sunni and Shia distinctions found throughout the Arab world are not particularly relevant to tribes-both in reference to tribes existing across borders or even within some of the Gulf states, like Iraq and Kuwait. For example, one tribe in Kuwait may be Sunni while their cousins across the border in Iraq are perhaps predominantly Shia.
One other definition common in social research in referring to tribes historically which is not applicable to the dozens of tribes in Kuwait includes the "concept of territorial contiguity". E.g., whereas in a few parts of Kuwait, certain tribes are scattered in specific areas, such as in Jahra area and in Ahmady governate, other tribes are found scattered throughout the urbanized landscape of more metropolitan Kuwait.
This is why, Dr. Al-Haddad notes, it is likely that tribes may come to win every single seat in the country's coming parliamentary elections, despite the presence of numerous non-aligned (non-tribal) urban candidates running for office in May 2008. Moreover, they will succeed despite the fact that the Emir and government of Kuwait are trying desperately to reduce the influence of tribalism on politics, economy, and society of Kuwait.
In a sense, the most straight forward and omnipresent manifestation of a tribe in Kuwait is the political organization of a tribe.
Regardless of which township a tribe member lives in or regardless of where he or she is working, the head of the tribe will be making the decisions. These tribal leaders are the ones, for example, who call together the current illegal meetings, primaries, and elections the population of Kuwait are observing this month.
In many of these meetings tribes are acting clearly as though they were a political party-even thought the Kuwaiti constitution has outlawed such political organizations since the country's inception in 1962. These tribes also organize election primaries which are alos fixed-this process is also against the law.
Many tribes even join together, as political combines across the planet do, and have attempted insure again in 2008 that no women will win a seat in parliament.
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