This book opens with an interesting question: Why do monarchies, which seem to be dying out everywhere else, thrive in the Middle East? The answer by Peterson, an expert on the Arabian peninsula who has already written fine books on Oman and North Yemen, is that the Emirs of the Arab Gulf have sought to be accountable to their citizens through a flexible mixture of traditional assemblies like the diwan and modern instruments like parliaments and an independent press.
Peterson illustrates his argument with detailed case studies of political institutions in Kuwait and Bahrain and with looser comparisons of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Lucid writing and fascinating anecdotes make the text accessible to undergraduates interested in the Gulf, modernization, or democratization in the Third World.
Choice Review: ?John Peterson has combined extensive research with keeen analysis to produce this excellent study of political development in the Gulf Arab societies. The historical background that he provides on each of the countires offers many insights into the nature of the ongoing contest between ruling elites and popular groups pressing for greater political participation.
Like most traditional autocracies, the ruling houses of the Gulf are have difficulty adjusting to the idea of power-sharing. Yet as this study makes clear, these ruling elites are by no means totally inflexible, and some at least are aware of the advantages of moving in this direction J.E. Peterson's succinct but thorough monograph offers a most interesting picture of societies in transition and is a welcome addition to scholarship on Arab political life.
Michael Sterner Consultant on International Affairs Former Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State This short work is as important for what it says to Western readers about their own perceptions of political development as for what it says about Middle East political participation J.E.
Peterson analyzes the history, current role, and future prospects of public participation in the political process in the Gulf states through national assemblies, not simply in terms of liberal democratic institutions appropriate to Western societies, but, more important, in terms of the needs for public participation and legitimacy of states representing traditional societies.
In so doing, he brings to bear the powerful analytical skills, the empathetic understanding of the region, and the careful scholarship that in previous works have earned hima place as one of the leading scholars of Arabian peninsula politics. This book should be required reading for all serious students of Gulf affairs, whether government, business, academia, or simply those seeking a better understanding of this area vital to Western interests.?-David E.
Long Research Professor of International Affairs School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
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