The Druzes as a Divided Minority Group

• Published in: Journal of Asian and African studies (Leiden) Vol. 7; no. 3-4; pp. 193 - 203
• Main Authors: Richter, Maurice N, Zenner, Walter P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Netherlands BRILL 1972; E.J. Brill
• Subjects: Minority/Minorities; Society, The, of
• ISSN: 0021-9096; 1745-2538; 1568-5217
• DOI: 10.1163/156852172X00328

The Druzes are a minority which has maintained a high degree of ethnic group autonomy. In the contemporary Middle East, it is marked as a group which has members actively participating on both sides of the highly polarized Arab-Israeli conflict. These factors contrast sharply with situations of other minorities, such as Amer blacks, & have given the Druzes certain advantages in the maintenance of the group. The Druzes have had to develop strategies to cope with certain dilemmas in maintaining their credibility with their immediate allies while not being taken for granted. These dilemmas apply to both the external situation of the Druzes & to their internal situation in Israel & elsewhere. AA.