Revising the Rentier Theory
September 15th, 2008 by Sarah
Brian Ulrich at American Footprints comments on Riad al-Khouri’s call for a revision of the rentier state theory fashioned after Kuwait’s qualified progress toward democracy. Al- Khouri states that “while unruly and sometimes embarrassing, Kuwait’s experience offers an example of what could be a future model for politics in a rentier state.”
Ulrich notes that “it seems likely that the historic lack of political liberalization isn’t tied to the fact that Gulf governments don’t extract tax revenue from their citizens, but that said citizens haven’t historically made agitation for political reform a priority.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Kuwait, Oil, Reform | Comment »
‘Islamic Democracy’ in the Arab World
September 12th, 2008 by Jason
Der Spiegel has an in-depth look at the current state of democracy in the Arab world. The 7-part series surveys Kuwait, Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan, and the Gulf, as well as analyzes the history of the fusion between Islam and democracy.
The authors reject the notion that democracy is somehow incompatible with Islam or Arab culture, and they conclude that “giving the peoples of the Islamic world a voice in shaping their own destinies will help make their lives easier, the region more predictable, and the West more secure.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Gulf, Islam and Democracy, Jordan, Kuwait, Political Islam, Tunisia, Turkey | Comment »
Arab Reform Bulletin: Just Read the Whole Thing
September 11th, 2008 by Jason
I was going to post about another great article up at Carnegie’s revamped Arab Reform Bulletin, but I see that they’ve got a wealth of wonderful stuff, so just go devour the whole site.
Something for everyone: Iraqi politics; security courts in Saudi Arabia; the below-mentioned repentant jihadists in Egypt; upcoming elections in Algeria, and Kuwaiti rentier state analysis for all the theorists out there.
Posted in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia | Comment »
Kuwait’s Royal Court Case
August 12th, 2008 by Adam
The Los Angeles Times reports on an interesting court case in Kuwait in which, Talal Nasser al Sabah, a member of Kuwait’s royal family was sentenced to death for drug trafficking. The case is “….viewed as a test of sorts, to see whether the country’s rampant nepotism can trump the independence of the judiciary.” Kuwait’s emir can commute the sentence, but in the past Kuwait has held its royal family responsible for wrongdoings, including jailing members for corruption.
Posted in Judiciary, Kuwait | Comment »
Labor Unrest in Kuwait
July 29th, 2008 by Adam
The Kuwait Times (Hat Tip: Babylon & Beyond) reports on several days of strikes and unrest by ex-pat workers seeking better labor conditions and higher pay to keep up with growing inflation. The foreign workers are mainly Arabs and Asians, and according to the Kuwait Times, this group accounts, “…for around two thirds of Kuwait’s 3.2 million population.” Though the street violence has taken a more violent turn in the past day or two, negotiations are going to proceed in the attempt to tamper down any further tension.
Posted in Kuwait | 1 Comment »
Islamism Region-Wide
June 20th, 2008 by Amanda
The American Spectator analyzes the conflict between Turkish secularists and AKP whom it contends is attempting to topple the established secularist state through its imposition of laws that are allegedly Islamist. The piece points to the constitutional courts overturning on June 5th of the AKP’s decision to permit the wearing of headscarves in Turkey’s public universities.
Khalil el-Anani, a resident Egyptian scholar at the Brookings Institution, examines the increasing spread of the Salafism in the Arab World, citing Kuwait’s May elections in which the group won a majority of Parliamentary seats. He asserts that “the Salafist trend has widened its appeal to the Arab public” and is concerned that the “ascendance of conservative Salafis would polarise the Arab world.” At Abu Aardvark, Marc Lynch comments on the possibly extremist affect the group is having on Yemeni politics as well.
The Middle East Strategy at Harvard has an interesting take on the “Islamic Intesification” of the Sunni Baluch of southeastern Iran.
Posted in Elections, Iran, Islamist movements, Kuwait, Turkey | Comment »
Political Islam and Modernity in Kuwait
June 18th, 2008 by Adam
Jamie Etheridge writes about how the newly empowered Islamist bloc in the Kuwaiti parliament is increasing political and social tensions in the tiny Gulf emirate and is a microcosm of the broader regional debate between traditionalists and modernizers. The fear is that their hostility toward foreign influences, women’s rights, and “immoral” private behavior may setback social reform. Furthermore, with Kuwaitis already displeased with the corruption and inaction of parliament, battles between Islamists and modernizers could further disillusion citizens towards parliament and political reform.
Posted in Kuwait, Political Islam | Comment »
Recent Elections in Kuwait
June 9th, 2008 by Sarah
Nathan Brown at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace long term suggests that Kuwait’s May elections have dealt political reform “a serious blow” because the results will deepen political deadlock in the Gulf’s most democratic political order.
For the full text of the web commentary, click here.
Posted in Elections, Kuwait, Reform | Comment »
Problems in the Gulf
June 2nd, 2008 by Adam
Elena McGovern of the Stimson Center examines labor issues in the United Arab Emirates, concluding that the lack of a skilled domestic workforce and a significant dependence on cheap foreign labor has left the government unable to handle the effects of economic modernization and threatens to effect the emirate’s image as a source of stability in a region of chaos. Headed north, the Daily Star reports on a political showdown between the Emir of Kuwait and the newly-elected parliament over cabinet appointments.
Posted in Gulf, Kuwait, UAE | Comment »
Potency of Kuwaiti Parliament In Question
May 23rd, 2008 by Amanda
In the wake of Kuwait’s Parliamentary elections held last week, The Economist argues that the nation’s efforts toward democratic reform are slowing down democratic reform in the region, not facilitating it. Even though “Kuwait has the strongest and noisiest parliament among the Arab monarchies of the Gulf,” the article claims that “few of their ruling families and friends think the price of democracy is worth paying.” And while the elections have turned over more seats to Islamists who are “just as likely to take on the government” as more secular factions, their long-term viability in the face of the monarchical bulwark is questionable.
Other Gulf countries, such as Qatar and UAE that resemble Kuwait’s societal structure have not yet constructed an election process for Parliamentary members. Despite Kuwait’s problems, however, women participate more directly in government than neighboring states like Saudi Arabia.
UPDATE: For analysis on Kuwait’s party participation, read commentary by Nathan Brown at Abu Aardvark.
Posted in Elections, Kuwait, Political Islam, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE | Comment »
New Parliament Not too Different from Old in Kuwait
May 19th, 2008 by Stephen
On Saturday, Kuwaitis voted to elected a parliament to replace the parliament dissolved by the emir, Shiekh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah, in March. The emir dismissed the parliament in response to what he viewed as obstruction of his proposed economic modernization reforms by members of parliament focused on local issues and pushing an Islamist agenda. But Islamists were reported to have won 24 of 50 seats on Saturday, two more seats than they held previously. Other reports focused on the failure of any of the 27 women candidates to win a seat, and noted that 28 of the 50 existing members of parliament were re-elected.
Posted in Elections, Kuwait, Political Islam | Comment »
Parliamentary Elections in Kuwait Tomorrow
May 16th, 2008 by Stephen
Elections will be held tomorrow to replace the outgoing Kuwaiti parliament, dissolved in March by Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who claims that his efforts to implement economic modernization reforms have been obstructed by the parliament, which has instead focused on local issues and pursuing Islamist objectives. David Pollock and Mehdi Khalaji of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy have a detailed pre-election analysis that examines the new electoral system that will make its debut, the role of the country’s Shi’a minority, and the electoral prospects of female candidates and Islamists.
This AKI article notes that Jenan Bushehri, considered by many to be the only one of the 27 female candidates to have a real chance of being elected, has adopted Barack Obama’s campaign slogan, “Yes we can.” The article also quotes another female candidate, Rula Dashti as saying that, “It is still too difficult for a woman in this country to be involved in politics.” In Kuwait Times, Hussein al-Qatari has written this useful guide to the parties, voting blocs, coalitions and tribal alliances likely to play a role in tomorrow’s elections.
Posted in Elections, Kuwait | Comment »
Kuwait Elections
May 8th, 2008 by Amanda
Nathan Brown, Middle East expert at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, analyzes Kuwait elections scheduled for May 17th. He argues that the elections “will produce little change” while recognizing that “Kuwait’s looming political crisis may have some serious implications for democracy in the Gulf,” developments that Brown suggests is “an important development the United States is overlooking.”
For the full text web commentary, click here.
Posted in Elections, Kuwait, US foreign policy | Comment »
Assessing Kuwait’s Democracy as Elections Loom
May 6th, 2008 by Sharlina
Robert F. Worth writes in The New York Times of growing Kuwaiti discontent with “too much democracy,” and its effect on slowing down their economy. With upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for May 17, many frustrations lie with the government’s inability to reform Kuwait’s state-controlled economy and its neglect of public hospitals and schools.
Posted in Kuwait | Comment »
Rice in Middle East Asking Iraq’s Neighbors for Support
April 22nd, 2008 by Sharlina
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for greater financial and diplomatic support for Iraq during a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting with Arab foreign ministers in Bahrain on Monday while Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki rebuked neighboring states for not doing enough to strengthen ties with Baghdad, write off Iraq’s debts or stop militants from entering his country.
Marc Lynch over at Abu Aardvark comments on the “muted” Gulf response to Rice’s pleas, arguing that the Arab leaders don’t seem to be responding to Rice’s pitch for supporting Iraq against Iran.
Meanwhile, Rice said today, while in the Gulf, that the Bush administration explicitly warned former President Jimmy Carter against meeting with members of Hamas.
Posted in Bahrain, Gulf, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Multilateralism, US foreign policy | Comment »
Rice Prepares for Meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council
April 18th, 2008 by Sharlina
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is planning to press Iraq’s Arab neighbors hard next week to do more to support Baghdad’s government and shield it from Iran’s “nefarious influences.” Rice is set to travel to Kuwait and neighboring countries on Tuesday to meet with the Gulf Cooperation Council. “What Iraq now needs most and what I will push for in Kuwait is greater support from its neighbors,” Rice said. “That includes establishing embassies in Baghdad and exchanging ambassadors.”
Posted in Iraq, Kuwait, US foreign policy | Comment »
Democratic Rights Prevail in Kuwait
April 17th, 2008 by Amanda
Shafeeq Ghabra at PostGlobal analyzes Kuwait’s recent dissolution of parliament that “reflects severe structural imbalances” within government. He cites sectarian rifts, administrative inconsistencies, and inadequate education as contributing factors in Kuwaiti divisions.
Although these concerns remain central to overall development and stability in the country, he states that Kuwait is ahead of other Middle Eastern states with regard to “democratic freedoms, transparency and rights,” adding, “Kuwaitis continue to exercise their right to speak their mind.” The Parliamentary elections scheduled next month will include a broader party participation than in previous times.
Posted in Elections, Kuwait, Political Parties | Comment »
Anti-Homosexual Offensive in the Arab World
April 10th, 2008 by Sharlina
An Egyptian court convicted five men Wednesday on charges of homosexual behavior and sentenced them to three years in prison, with reports that the judge found the men guilty of the “habitual practice of debauchery,” a term used in the Egyptian legal system to denote consensual homosexual acts.
Bloomberg’s Daniel Williams reports of Egyptian police’s sweeps over the past three months as part of “an effort by governments throughout the Middle East to out-moralize Islamic parties that have denounced the perceived depravity of Arab societies under autocratic rule.”
In January, six men in Morocco were accused of homosexual conduct, a crime in that country, after a video circulated that showed one dancing at a wedding dressed as a woman, while Kuwait’s parliament in December passed a law that criminalized “imitating the appearance of the opposite sex.”
Posted in Egypt, Human Rights, Kuwait, Morocco | Comment »
Carnegie’s Arab Reform Bulletin for April
April 3rd, 2008 by Amanda
Be sure to check out the April issue of the Arab Reform Bulletin from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. This month’s edition features a fascinating interview with three key female political actors from the Gulf on women’s political participation: Rola Dashti (Kuwait), Fatin Bundagi (Saudi Arabia), and Munira Fakhro (Bahrain).
Also included are a critical look at next week’s municipal elections in Egypt by Khalil al-Anani, an examination of the fairness of Morocco’s electoral system by Michael Meyer-Resende, and an article on President Bush’s budget request for fiscal year 2009 and what it means for democracy in the Arab world, by POMED’s Stephen McInerney.
Their news roundup also covers many fascinating developments such as the opening of the first church in Qatar, a constitutional amendment in Tunisia that should make it possible for more candidates to run in the presidential election next year, and labor unrest in the UAE.
Posted in Arab media, Bahrain, Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Gulf, Journalism, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, UAE, US foreign policy | Comment »
Kuwait’s New Crisis
March 25th, 2008 by Sharlina
David Pollock at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy describes the recent action by Kuwaiti emir Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah to dissolve the country’s parliament a “drastic measure” that “reflects two distinct sets of tensions, both of which Kuwait has overcome in the past: tensions between the executive branch and parliament, and tensions between fundamentalists from the Sunni majority and the Shiite minority.”
Posted in Kuwait | Comment »
