Archive / 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.
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Keywords
Civil society Democracy Political ReformRelated publications
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.
