The Iraqi Tribal System

In The Iraqi Tribal System, Sam G. Stolzoff provides critical tribal data and applied analytical methods for people who are interested in Iraqi and other Middle Eastern societies from the perspective of tribalism, a subject that has been virtually ignored by western academia. This book is the result of his non-funded, initial independent study and translation of Iraqi Arabic tribal scholarship in order to create a basic political, economic and counterinsurgent tribal analytical framework that is organic to Iraqi cultural realities.

Sam G. Stolzoff is a student of Iraqi tribes with four years of field experience in Iraq. During his work with a Special Missions Unit, Mr. Stolzoff and his coworkers collectively pioneered tribal engagement strategies that were used successfully in counterinsurgency operations. Prior to his service as a cultural consultant, Mr. Stolzoff soldiered for 66th MI Co., 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment, and was deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom I in 2003, and Operation Iraqi Freedom III in 2005; both of which lasted for one year. Mr. Stolzoff is fluent in Arabic, both spoken and written. He is currently working to expand our knowledge of tribalism throughout the rest of the Middle East.