The Emergence of States in a Tribal Society: Oman Under Sa‘id Bin Taymur, 1932-1970

This book reassesses the reign of Said bin Taymur, who was deposed by his son, Qabus bin Said, in a coup in July 1970. Contemporary historiography of the period of Said’s rule (1932-1970) views Oman as medieval and isolationist; Qabus’ later government is seen as progressive and enlightened, with his ascendancy to the throne often described as the ’rebirth of Oman’ from its ’medieval slumber’ into a thriving and prosperous Sultanate. This study refutes the prevailing view that Said’s four-decade reign should be perceived as a place where time stood still. The author offers a critical look at the economic, political, social and cultural aspects of Oman during the reign of Said bin Taymur. The book mainly focuses on tribe-state relations, emphasizing their dynamic interaction, with particular attention paid to the relationships between the tribal groups. Uzi Rabi’s book reinterprets a significant timescale in the modern history of the Arabian Peninsula and pre-oil societies, and will be essential reading for both students and scholars of Middle Eastern history, culture and society.

Prof. Uzi Rabi PhD (Tel Aviv University, 2000) is the Chair of the Department of Middle Eastern and African History, and the Director of the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, Tel Aviv University. He specializes in the fields of the modern history of states and societies in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula; oil and politics in the Middle East; Iranian-Arab relations; and Sunni-Shi’i tensions.