Muslim-Christian Conflicts: Economic, Political, and Social Origins by Suad Joseph

Author:Suad Joseph [Joseph, Suad]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Middle Eastern, Social Science, Political Science, World, Regional Studies
ISBN: 9780429726675
Google: 04K1DwAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 50882310
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2019-06-07T00:00:00+00:00

Patron-Client Relations

Operating as a patron, a sa'im commands political support of his client group, who are of the same sect. In return he passes on to them concrete economic benefits. These patron-client relations involve multiple facets of the participating actors and are not based simply on economic interests. Although there is no formal contract, there is an understanding that clients must not support zu'ama other than the one from whom they receive favors. In return for favors, clients are obliged to demonstrate loyalty in times of political crisis.

The SSNP must not be separated from the patron-client system for the whole concept of the za'ira is carried over to the party level and mingled with ideology. This is based on the fact that while ideological commitment of the party only appeals to a limited segment of the population, the benefits from a za'im have a far wider range.

Significant attention has been directed to the survival of patronage in Lebanon as one of the most fundamental of all social bonds that holds the society together. Vertical solidarity emerges from these asymmetrical relationships because of the fact that the masses in Lebanon have had no other accessible avenue open to them in the past for securing such things as jobs, protection, and personal services, except through allegiance to a za'im. For example, in the 1972 elections in Koura while Abdallah Sa'adeh was able to attract a number of party votes, he was also receiving the endorsement of non-party members. This was due to his effectiveness as a za'im. On the local village level he rewarded individuals directly for their political support. He was a medical doctor and provided free medicine and treatment for his supporters. Running on the same list with Abdallah Sa'adeh was za'im Phillip Bollos who balanced off the list by obtaining employment and economic services for individuals who supported the candidates.

Thus on the local village level the zaim provides benefits to individuals in need, in return for political support. In the villages a large percentage of individuals receive jobs usually in some government office through a za'im. However, if the villagers refuse to support the za'im, they can easily lose their jobs. Considering that thirty-two percent of the people in one village in Koura were teachers in government schools, this threat carried considerable weight. Thus, not all alliances are entered into freely by the villagers. Very frequently they have no other choice. Pressures come from above, from the powerholders.

Traditionally, certain individuals are mobilizers of power. They enter into an alliance with a za'im and act as a liaison between him and the local villagers by enforcing the za'im's will through the use of overt violence and force. These important individuals are called abadayaat (sing, abada'i), or strongmen. The exercise of power in Lebanon does not depend solely on a za'im's personal network of clients, but rather on the ability to mobilize what is essential for tactical advantage at any given point in time (Mailloux 1978). In the present war, much

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