KUWAIT AND AL-SABAH tribal politics and power in an oil state;tribal politics and power in an oil state

"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."-- Provided by publisher 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 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 Book Starts With An Analysis Of Pre-oil Society In Kuwait By Focusing On The Ruling Elite's Relationship With Its Periphery. It Then Provides An Account Of The Fundamentals Of The Al-sabah's Authority Structure Since The Mid-19th Century And Regime-society Relations Following Kuwait's Consolidation Into An Oil State. The Last Part Looks At The Rise Of Previously Marginalized Tribesmen In Politics Since The Invasion And How Their Emancipation Transcends The Divisions Between Kuwait's Traditional Social Groups (hadar, Shia And Badu) And Represents A Broader Middle-class Struggle. Rivka Azoulay 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. The Book Makes A New Argument About The Relationship Between The Ruling Elite And The Periphery And Gets To The Heart Of The Nature Of Political Authority Of The Al-sabah Dynasty.