Why read The Imamate Tradition of Oman?

Book cover of The Imamate Tradition of Oman

Book description

At the core of this book is an attempt to explain a conflict in Oman in the 1950s and 1960s between two claimants to authority: the Imam of the Ibadi sect in the interior and the Sultan with his capital at Muscat on the coast. The crisis, precipitated by two…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Imamate Tradition of Oman as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Christiane Bird

Author

In this scholarly yet quite readable deep dive into Oman’s history, Wilkinson, an Oxford professor and former oil executive, explores the country’s two traditions: its closed, isolated, tribal interior, which until the 1950s was governed by an elected Iman of Ibadi Islam; and its more secular, multiethnic coastal region, which operated as a major maritime power for over 1,000 years.

I was especially interested to learn about the disastrous effects of Western interference in the region—which still reverberate today—and rival oil companies’ battles with traditional Omani leaders to gain control of the country’s oil reserves.

From Christiane's list on The best books about the intriguing country of Oman.