Send page Print

Europe & Middle East / Working Paper

Political reform and the prospects for democratic transition in the gulf

08/07/2005 By Jill Crystal

In the context of the United State’s increased emphasis on political reform in the Middle East as central goal of its foreign policy, this paper analyses the processes of political reform that have taken place during the last decade in the states that form the Gulf Cooperation Council.

In examining reform in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, UAE and Saudi Arabia the paper seeks to explain the limits of liberalisation, and outlines the role played by external and domestic pressure. After analysing political reform in relation to economic, institutional and social structural factors the paper concludes with a series of policy recommendations for Western actors working to increase the prospects of political liberalisation in the Gulf. These include:
- ensuring external policies do not hinder reform; 
- emphasising structural changes and institution building; 
- and being selective in transporting particular forms of political systems.

Download the full version of this publication, available in English (180 kB)
Spanish (222 kB)

Keywords

Civil society Democracy Political Reform

Related publications

• Political Islam: ready for engagement?

Bio author: Jill Crystal

Jill Crystal is Associate Professor and PhD Programme Director, Faculty of Political Science, Auburn University. Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1986. Her research and teaching interests include Middle Eastern Politics and International Political Economy.