How did the Sanusi religious order evolve from a localized Sufi movement into a significant political and military force in Cyrenaica? Sir Edward E. Evans-Pritchard, a preeminent social anthropologist, utilizes his extensive field research and historical analysis to examine the structure of the Sanusi order. He argues that the order's success was rooted in its ability to integrate religious authority with the tribal social organization of the Bedouin populations in Libya. The text provides a detailed framework for understanding the intersection of Islamic mysticism and regional political resistance.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text in the anthropology of North Africa and Islamic social movements. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which remains a standard reference for scholars studying the intersection of religion and colonial-era politics.