ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the major changes which have taken place in the social and political structure of Arab towns and villages since the establishment of the state; the impact of municipalization on that structure; and the dynamic engendered between local and outside forces, especially national political parties. It deals with the topic generally, referring to the existing literature and other secondary sources. The chapter analyzes the findings of field research into the social and political structure of some typical Arab towns, representing varying cross-sections of the Arab population by size, geographical location, ethnic composition, and period of municipalization. In the Arab community the municipal government is officially non-partisan, although the various political parties have always played a significant role behind the scenes. The chapter offers an overview of the social and political structure of the Arab population and of the dynamic engendered by municipalization between internal forces and external, these being mainly the national political parties.
