Book Review: Political Tribes by Amy Chua

Whenever we heard of Tribes, we think that it is a thing of past or some remote areas in Pakistan where uncivilized people are living in the dark ages. The book ‘political tribe’ by Amy Chua is an eye-opener for everyone to broaden their understanding of the tribes and how significant they are still in today's age and time.

The book describes that America has a unique position in the world where it is perceived as a nation that there is no difference among people based on their cast color and creed.but this perceived notion has resulted in the blindness of America. Where these fault lines are so deep underneath that whenever there is any dent in their domestic setup. The political tribes in America and their division become more obvious and reflected in the cases as it is happening now in the George Floyd case.

The book then informs about how America has neglected or blind toward their political tribes but America's foreign policy has failed because it has ignored political tribes of the countries she has invaded and attacked.

The book explains why Americans faced a defeat in Vietnam because it has oversimplified its enemy as a pro-socialist China. Whereas Vietnam is a deeply politically divided country where Chinese were in minorities but they had market dominance. Market dominance played a huge rule in the developing world. Political tribes are deeply rooted in their history and culture. Justifying attack and invasion on the divide and rule policy that America has inherited from Great Britain will ultimately result in disaster and turn against itself and Vietnam has successfully defeated America because of its blindness toward the political tribes of Vietnam.

Afghanistan is another important country where American policies have failed because of its tribal blindness. The book has a very interesting caption where it has mentioned the USA as Pakistan’s pawn because America had no idea at that time about the tribal politics of America. The book has also briefly mentioned political sensibilities in Pakistan even to marry in another ethnic caste in Pakistan is not appreciated in Pakistani Punjabis.

Well, Allama Iqbal in his poetry mentioned the political tribes of Afghanistan that it is the biggest reason Afghanistan political turmoil.

“The names of various tribes to them are dear,

 The robe of the Afghaniat doesn't like to wear.”

American foreign policies had no idea before invading Afghanistan and which was the biggest reason for American defeat and loss in Afghanistan.

Iraq is another failure of American foreign policy, the deep Shia- Sunni divide and hatred toward Saddam Hussien and the promise of democracy and human rights does not satisfy Iraqi people to surrender themselves to The aims and goals of the 

The USA. The book mentioned that America has changed its policy recently but it is to late to redeem itself back from the chaos that is prevalent in the region and the domestic politics of America already.

Another interesting case study was about Venezuela, where it was not only capitalist and socialist divide but the country has deep ethnic tension which was exploited by the Late Chavez. America's oversimplification in Venezuela has always worked against it.

The later chapters have discussed in great detail about identity politics and race matters in America that how these movements have been hijacked by leftist and right-wing agendas. Everybody in America feels threatened and the American dream project and universalist model of human rights provided by America were more threatened from inside of America.

The recent President Trump election has exposed political tribes of America. Now it is everyone against everyone. the sense of individual rights versus community has gain strength which is the biggest threat of American exceptionalism as a super tribe.

The author with caution has very high hopes, historically the enemies of past can be friends of today so this is the biggest hope for America which is a land of immigrants to survive their American dream

This is an amazing book and it will broaden your horizon how we should see States, and this division has delicate intricacies which should not disturb so that the others will not be threatened by them. Tribalism and Tribes are not things of the past and it is very much relevant as it was in the past.