The meaning of leadership for educated young bedouin men

In a world beset by rapid change, more than ever people seek trustworthy leaders. The establishment of the State of Israel has wrought many changes in Bedouin society, including the perception of the traditional leadership. From being the majority population in an Arab country, the Bedouins have become a minority in a Jewish-majority state. Moreover, they have undergone a shift from an Indigenous, tribal culture to a culture based on individualism, and from a nomadic life to one of permanent settlement. In this context a qualitative study in the phenomenological tradition, using a semi-structured interview, was conducted among 20 educated young Bedouin men, ages 20–25, with the aim of understanding the meaning of leadership for them. The findings revealed that they see leadership as action for the benefit of all. They are aware of what they consider bogus leadership, elected officials who use their position to promote their own interests and those of their cronies. The participants described the differences between formal and informal leadership, on the basis of their experience. They also described the change they themselves are undergoing. The findings contribute to the understanding of factors affecting the perception of leadership in a society in transition to modernity and are applicable worldwide.