ABSTRACT

Since the establishment of the Native Administration in the 1930s, the Habbaniya family has had a monopoly of the senior administrative offices and has been able to turn their position in this structure, which was formerly hierarchical only in appearance, into one of dominance. The hierarchical structure of tribal administration was a lesser source of power for the nazir and his deputies, or the administrative shaikhs or omdas under them. Major politics and decisions affecting entire tribal populations in the region were formed in the meglis, a 'quasi-parliamentary' institution, and thus were taken alone by the tribal chiefs or even by the government. The post-dam political, administrative centralization has radically changed the nature of tribal politics. Since the establishment of the Native Administration in the 1930s, the Habbaniya family has had a monopoly of the senior administrative offices and has been able to turn their position in this structure, which was formerly hierarchical only in appearance, into one of dominance.