Chapter
4:
Context
and
contextual
changes
merit,
and
the
acceptance
of
that
status
within
the
tribe.
They
are
in
theory
representatives
of
their
communities
to
outsiders
(Philips,
2011).
As
mentioned
in
the
concentric
circles,
the
tribes’
influence
at
the
national
level
depends
on
their
proximity
to
the
regime.
Many
sheikhs
are
financially
supported
by
the
government
through
a
non-‐transparent
process
according
to
their
relevance
to
the
regime
(Philips,
2011).
The
regime
uses
incentives
to
strengthen
the
tribes,
but
at
the
same
time
also
feared
the
tribes
and
was
therefore
motivated
to
weaken
them
through
fragmenting
their
traditional
power
structures
and
dividing
the
power
social
forces
into
more
manageable
segments
(Philips,
2011).
Philips
(2007)
views
the
current
political
system
as
superimposed
on
a
society
with
strong
tribal
structures
that
are
often
quite
autonomous
from
the
state,
with
considerable
regional
differences,
and
with
extreme
poverty.
Rather
than
superimposition,
Al-‐Daw 6&