A History of Modern Yemen

"Paul Dresch is a pioneer and probably the greatest scholar on Yemeni tribal culture and history. He knew that to understand the phenomenon of tribes you had to dig into Yemen’s history and culture. These tribes arbitrated their differences through a group of scholars and judges who lived in enclaves considered sacred and off-limits to tribal warfare. Dresch shows how these tribes engage and interact with the state in pre-modern and modern times. It’s a very important book. Southern Yemen was ruled by communists from 1967 to 1990 – the only Marxist regime in Arabia and the Middle East. As an anthropologist, Dresch focuses on a particular incident, episode or anecdote and brings out a world of meaning and complexity. He helps you understand Yemeni society. He also highlights features of Yemeni culture, politics and tribalism in other places. It’s a good introduction to Yemen, viewed from the ground and from the anthropologist’s point of view. Yes. But he knows Yemeni history extremely well so it’s informed by pre-modern history. He looks at continuities as well as ruptures, placing these in a broader framework. He helps us understand what makes Yemen tick."