Books by William Lancaster

The result of 25 years of research with different tribal groups in the Arabian peninsula, this study focuses on ethnographic description of Arab tribal societies in five regions of the peninsula, with comparative material from others.

Based on interviews and field research, the authors explore the sets of ideas Arab tribespeople from Ras Al-Khaimah had about tribe and community; social and economic networks, and jural contracts for livelihoods and profits; their uses of their environments; the moral relations of credit, debt and labour; ruling; economic and political transformations; and ideas of regional history where conflicts were regarded as disputes over sets of ideas, and informal accounts of tribal and local histories.Their lively descriptions and explanations of life before oil portrayed tribal societies whose relationships were moral rather than political and were between jurally equal persons. All lived from their own resources; 'wealth' was material self-sufficiency; 'riches' the richness of social relationships. Political arenas were decentralised and underpinned by common cultural and moral values.Published sources give a wider context to these ideas and events which show the great complexity and differing perspectives of 'life before oil' in the Gulf.

CAN RACISM BE OVERCOME? Robert Lee Morrison, age 74, lives alone in the old farmhouse he's lived in most of his life. His wife Betty died eight years ago, and their only son, Bobby, died in Vietnam after stepping on a mine. Robert has reluctantly agreed to sell the farm, but not before renovating the old place himself.Malcolm Johnson is just 17, but after his mother died a month ago, Malcolm found himself without a place to live. He secretly moves into a small, empty house on Mr. Morrison's property while he saves money for college.When Robert learns that a young black kid is living on his property, he decides to take care of the problem himself. Robert once had a reputation for dealing with blacks outside the law. But when he confronts Malcolm, he is surprised to find himself sympathetic to the young man's situation. Robert decides to hire Malcolm to help with the house renovation.Robert begins to admire Malcolm's attitude and work ethic - something he thought was sorely lacking in today's youth. But will that admiration be enough to convince Robert to let go of his lifelong racism and hate? And, more importantly, will he finally be able to forgive himself for his past?