Kinship, State Formation and Governance in the Arab Gulf States - Paperback

by Scott J. Weiner (Author)

Tribe-state relations are a foundational element of authoritarian bargains in the Middle East - particularly in the Gulf States. However, the structures of governance built upon that foundation exhibit wide differences. What explains this variation in the salience of kinship authority? Through a case comparison of Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, Scott Weiner shows that variation in tribal access to limited resources before state building can account for these differences. Based on empirical data and over 50 interviews with former government officials, tribal leaders, civil society activists andstudents, the book reveals important new details about state formation on the Arabian Peninsula.

Back Jacket

A comparison of tribal politics and the impact on governance in Kuwait, Oman and Qatar Tribe-state relations are a foundational element of authoritarian bargains in the Middle East - particularly in the Gulf States. However, the structures of governance built upon that foundation exhibit wide differences. What explains this variation in the salience of kinship authority? Through a case comparison of Kuwait, Qatar and Oman, Scott Weiner shows that variation in tribal access to limited resources before state building can account for these differences. Based on empirical data and over 50 interviews with former government officials, tribal leaders, civil society activists and students, the book reveals important new details about state formation on the Arabian Peninsula. Key features  Systematically connects the construction of kinship identity to state-level political outcomes  Emphasises the importance of pre-state conditions to post-state building politics  Assesses kinship politics in the ruling family, state ministries, parliaments, local governing institutions and interpersonal interactions Scott Weiner is a professorial lecturer in political science at George Washington University.

Author Biography

Scott Weiner is a professorial lecturer in political science at George Washington University. His research focuses on identity politics in the Arab Gulf states, ethnic politics, and gender. From 2013-14 he was a Visiting Research Fellow at the Gulf Studies Center of the American University of Kuwait. In 2015, his research was recognized with a Doctoral Paper Award from the Association for the Study of Nationalities. His academic work has appeared in the International Feminist Journal of Politics and Political Studies Review, and he has written short pieces for the Washington Post as well as the Carnegie Endowment, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, Lawfare, Small Wars Journal, and the Diplomatic Courier.