The Role of the Sheikh From Coin and Irregular Warfare In a Tribal Society

Mike Totten has a fresh post up at Contentions onThe Shia Awakening

Totten's take on the recent events in Anbar and his observations include this nugget on sheikhs. I matched this with the chapter on the role of sheikhs from William S. McCallister's COIN and Irregular Warfare in a Tribal Society.

It’s hard for Americans to appreciate just how much power sheikhs have in Iraq. What they say goes. I spent a week in the Graya’at neighborhood of Baghdad, where every sheikh had come around to the American side. Earlier this year they insisted that not a single shot shall be fired at American soldiers, and not a single shot has been fired since. When they say it’s time to join Moqtada al-Sadr, or it’s time to join the Americans, nearly every person under their authority does what they say.

In the parts of Iraq where the locals turn against the insurgents en masse, it is only a matter of time before the insurgents are finished. Civilians phone in actionable intelligence on the locations of safe houses, weapons caches, IED’s, and everything else. Michael Totten contentions

The Role of the Sheikh SWJ

The traditional sheikh – tribe relationship is based on consensus not force. A
given sheikh can only do what the people wish. Leadership in the tribal
system is based on the sheikh’s “ability to attract and keep followers” vice
“ability to enforce”. This in turn is based on an individual sheikh’s
legitimacy and credibility. Legitimacy and credibility is based on the
following criteria:

• • Years to grow a sheikh. It takes many years to learn, gain experienceand wisdom.
• • A sheikh’s standing based on consensus of the tribe.
• • A sheikh’s legitimacy is based on lineage and bloodline.

• • A sheikh’s credibility is based on his ability to mediate and attract
• followers; he does not rule nor enforce. This is also a function of
• experience and wisdom (ability to manipulate and perception
• management).

• • Tribal sheikhs are key communicators. Their basis of power is persuasion rather than the exercise of force.
  

• • The majority does not rule in the tribal house. All decisions are based on consensus. If seven out of ten sheikhs agree; no sheikhs agree.
  

• • Tribal members are free to challenge the sheikh. In a federation, a
• dissenting tribe may vote with its feet. SWJ