Kuwait and Al-Sabah: Tribal Politics and Power in an Oil State

Description

The Emirate of Kuwait hardly resembles the city-State it was at the start of the 20th century. The discovery of oil in 1938 rapidly transformed the tiny tribal sheikhdom of the Al-Sabah into a modern oil-producing state where, by the early 1980s, citizens were enjoying one of the highest standards of living in the world. While much has been written on the reasons why and how the Al-Sabah became a ruling dynasty, little is known about the nature of their authority and its relationship to Kuwait's social structure. Rivka Azoulay shows how despite the rapidity of change in the oil-rich, family-run emirate, it is the pre-oil dynamics of social and political life that dictate how society operates. The author shows that Kuwait's ambitious diversification plans to reduce oil-dependence by 2035 require a renegotiation of the regime's pact with society, which threatens the pre-oil alliances upon which the Al-Sabah's regime has been built.

Rivka Azoulay is a postdoctoral fellow at Sciences Po Paris, France, where she is working on a project to reform the social safety net system in Kuwait.

This is the definitive political history of Kuwait. Rivka Azoulay examines its experiences within the context of political change in traditional societies and centre periphery relations. It is an excellent work and essential reading for those interested in the history of Arabia and the Gulf. -- Rodney Wilson, Emeritus Professor, Durham University, U.K A magnificent volume that connects past and present to provide one of the most comprehensive books on Kuwaiti politics to date. -- Christopher Davidson, Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), U.K Rivka Azoulay's book combines ethnographic finesse with a deep grasp of Gulf historical sociology. It is, by some margin, the best piece of work on the political sociology of GCC elites. Its historical range is impressive and theoretical insights about how the Kuwaiti rentier state allies with and reshapes social groups are unique, adding a dimension of identity politics to Gulf political economy that has long been missing. -- Steffen Hertog Associate Professor in Comparative Politics, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK In this excellent political history, Rivka Azoulay provides a compelling explanation of the complex political dynamics between the various constituent elements of Kuwaiti society, as well as how and why the country has survived until today. What emerges is a nuanced analysis of the relationships between the Al Sabah dynasty, the tribes, the Shia and the families of urban notables. There is no better or more up-to-date study on Kuwait's history and politics. -- Bernard Haykel, Professor of Near Eastern Studies Director, Institute for Transregional Study of the Contemporary Middle East, Princeton University, U.S