Patronage as a Model for Muslim–Jewish Relations in North Africa: Contributions of Anthropological Field Research and a Case from Libya
Historical research on Jewish and Christian minorities within the Muslim world typically refers to the notion of dhimmi in which religious tradition formulates the relations between Muslim rule and subjects. Rulers should protect the life and property of religious minorities, while members of these...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Wiley-Blackwell
2012
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| In: |
Religion compass
Year: 2012, Volume: 6, Issue: 2, Pages: 152-162 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Historical research on Jewish and Christian minorities within the Muslim world typically refers to the notion of dhimmi in which religious tradition formulates the relations between Muslim rule and subjects. Rulers should protect the life and property of religious minorities, while members of these communities must accept certain restrictions appropriate to their status. During the second half of the 20th century, anthropologists in North Africa were able to directly observe and interpret Jewish-Muslim interaction among the dwindling number of Jews who still lived in the region. They were impressed by the ability of both Muslims and Jew to create individualized ties that crossed communal boundaries, and suggested that this type of interaction be understood in terms of patron-client relations. This paper explores and discusses this paradigm, and argues that webs of patronage should be seen as complementing the older scheme in which dhimmi status sets the parameters for viewing a person’s place in society, rather than providing an alternative to it. This elaborated perspective is exemplified with data from Jewish life in Libya. |
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| ISSN: | 1749-8171 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Religion compass
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-8171.2012.00337.x |