New Paper Topic

My proposed topic is to conduct a comparative study of the theme of honor in two sub-sections of Muslim society: the Sunni Pashtun of Afghanistan/Pakistan and the Shia population of Lebanon. Both of these cultures have been deeply influenced by Islamic ideology and by pre-existing tribal laws, whose edicts sometimes complement each other and also contradict. In this long process of ideological fusion, certain aspects of Islam and tribalism have been highlighted or obscured. This is especially the case with rules that apply to personal and family honor, which can include anything from appropriate behavior towards one’s elders, towards cultural outsiders, and towards one’s close confidantes. My aim is to explore how Islam and tribal codes of conduct shape the social structure of these groups and how this dialectic has enhanced or impeded their respective developmental paths. These paths have not been identical, as Pashtun and Lebanese Shia culture originated in unique geographies, were introduced to often oppositional Islamic ideologies at different times, evolved next to and amongst very different cultural neighbors, and had divergent experiences in relation to foreign powers, particularly colonial ones.
I will first define the concept of honor as it pertains to Muslim social and family life, then explain the histories of the Pashtun and Lebanese Shia as it pertains to the interaction between their respective Islamic traditions and tribal traditions. In what way has Islam acted as a colonizing agent and erased or marginalized previous traditions pertaining to honorable conduct? Conversely, in what ways have tribal traditions assimilated Islamic teachings, using the faith as an additional justification of previous tribal practices? Perhaps most importantly, how have these two sub-cultures justified the continued survival of tribal-based practices that either ignore or blatantly contradict Islamic teachings, especially in terms of honor? The primary reference for what constitutes “Islamic teaching” will be the holy book of Islam, the Quran, as well as supplementary sources that shed additional light upon the variations in Islamic practice espoused by Sunnism and Shiism.
This paper advocates that the social primacy of honor is by no means a strictly Muslim phenomenon; rather, it is rooted in the tribal traditions of particular societies that have maintained their continuity for centuries. Nevertheless, it is of particular import to understand honor in Muslim societies with the intent of enhancing cross-cultural dialogue. Given that Western nations and the United States in particular are economically, politically and/or militarily enmeshed in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Lebanon, it is no small necessity to understand the honor-based practices of these societies. Additionally, practices that Westerners and the majority of Muslims find abhorrent (honor killings, clitoridectomy, etc) cannot be confronted without knowing how and from where they originate.