The Naqab Bedouins: A Century of Politics and Resistance

The Naqab Bedouins challenge the narrative of victimization and present them as active agents who have resisted subjugation and control. The book chronicles their history of political struggle, resistance, and nonviolent action, and how they have asserted their land claims and become political actors in the region.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 20 September 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

The Naqab Bedouins, a community in southern Palestine, have often been portrayed as victims or passive recipients of Israeli military rule
rule. In his book, Mansour Nasasra challenges this narrative by presenting the Bedouins as active agents who have defied attempts at subjugation and control. The book challenges the notion of Bedouin docility under Israeli military rule and today, showcasing how they have contributed to shaping their own destiny.

The Naqab Bedouins represents the first attempt to chronicle Bedouin history and politics across the last century, including the Ottoman era, the British Mandate, Israeli military rule, and the contemporary schema. Nasasra documents the Naqab Bedouin history of political struggle and resistance to central authority. Nonviolent action and the strength of kin-based tribal organization helped the Bedouins assert land claims and call for the right of return to their historical villages. Through primary sources and oral history, including detailed interviews with local indigenous Bedouins and with Israeli and British officials, Nasasra shows how this Bedouin community survived strict state policies and military control and positioned itself as a political actor in the region.

The book also explores the broader relevance of the Naqab Bedouin experience to understanding state-minority relations in the region and beyond. Nasasra argues that the Naqab Bedouins' struggle for land and rights is not unique to their community but is part of a broader pattern of state-minority relations in the Middle East. He suggests that the book can be used as a tool for policymakers and activists working to promote minority rights and justice in the region.

In conclusion, The Naqab Bedouins is a valuable contribution to the study of Middle East history and politics. By presenting the Bedouins as active agents who have defied attempts at subjugation and control, Nasasra challenges the conventional wisdom that positions them as victims or passive recipients. The book offers a new perspective on the history of the Naqab Bedouins and their struggle for land and rights, and its broader relevance to understanding state-minority relations in the region and beyond.

Weight: 456g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231175319