SOCIAL DYRAMICS OF DISPUTE SETTLEMENT IN A SUNNI MUSLIM VILLAGE IN LEBANON (FROM DISPUTING PROCESS - LAW IN TEN SOCIETIES, 1978, BY LAURA NADER AND HARRY F TODD, JR SEE NCJ-67284)

• NCJ Number: 67287
• Author(s): J E ROTHENBERGER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 29 pages
• Corporate Author: Columbia University Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DISPUTE SETTLEMENT IN A LEBANESE VILLAGE IS DISCUSSED BY FOCUSING ON THE SOCIOECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONTEXT OF THE DISPUTE AND THE SETTLEMENT PROCESS.

Abstract

QARYA HAS AN ALL-SUNNI MUSLIM POPULATION OF ABOUT 1,100. THE VILLAGE'S UNITS OF SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND DISPUTE SETTLEMENT ACTION ARE BASED ON LINEAGES (COMPOSED OF ALL PEOPLE WHO CAN TRACE THEIR DESCENT THROUGH MALES FROM A KNOWN, OR IN SOME CASES, TRADITIONAL MALE ANCESTOR) RATHER THAN INDIVIDUALS. ANYONE IN THE VILLAGE MAY USE ANY CONFLICT RESOLUTION REMEDY AGENT OR AGENCY. THE CHOICE OF MECHANISMS DEPENDS ON THE SOCIOECONOMIC-POLITICAL POSITION OF THE DISPUTANT, HIS POSITION VIS-A-VIS HIS OPPONENT, AND THE POSITIONS OF THE DISPUTANTS IN REGARD TO THE POSSIBLE REMEDY AGENT. THE GREAT MAJORITY OF DISPUTES ARE SETTLED IN THE VILLAGE ACCORDING TO PREFERRED VILLAGE MEDIATION PROCEDURES. A DISPUTE WITHIN A LINEAGE IS TAKEN TO AND USUALLY SETTLED BY THE HEAD OF THE LINEAGE (WAJIIH). AN INTERLINEAGE DISPUTE IS TAKEN TO THE MUKHTAAR (THE ELECTED VILLAGE MAJOR), TO THE FORMER MUKHTAAR, TO THE IMAN (THE RELIGIOUS LEADER OF THE VILLAGE), OR TO ALL OF THEM IN CONSULTATION. RAMIFICATIONS OF THE PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT DEPEND ON THE RELATIVE POSITIONS OF ALL PARTIES, INCLUDING THE REMEDY AGENTS. A VIOLENT DISPUTE THAT COMES TO THE ATTENTION OF OUTSIDE AUTHORITIES MAY PRODUCE POLICE INTERVENTION, ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT DESIRED BY ANYONE IN THE VILLAGE. FORMAL COURTS ARE RARELY USED, EXCEPT IN INTERVILLAGE DISPUTES WHERE EFFORTS AT VILLAGE-TYPE RESOLUTIONS ARE INEFFECTIVE. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)