Lords of the Lebanese Marches: Violence and Narrative in an Arab Society - Paperback

by Michael Gilsenan (Author)

This book is a study of how feudalism works in a contemporary Arab society, examining the operations of the hierarchy of Lebanese warlords. The book shows how the warlords have adapted to changing economic conditions in Lebanon. Whereas power was formerly based on landed estates, it now lies in services and capital. The book examines the nature of the competition between these men, how elections are influenced by patronage and violence.

Author Biography

Michael Gilsenan is Professor of Anthropology and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures at New York University and is Emeritus Fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford.