The Arabian Gulf

Political pluralism and the dilemma of totalitarian bureaucracies – a study in the liberalization of monopolistic policies

Bibliographic Data

ID12923917
AuthorsFatḥī al-ʿAfīfī (Zagazig University, corresponding author), Fathi al-Afifi
Year2008
Volume1
Issue4
Pages551-571
Publication date2008-10-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueContemporary Arab Affairs (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1755-0920 • E-ISSN: 1755-0912
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17550910802390854
OpenAlexW2048189837
LanguageEN
References cited11

The article tackles a lesser-known aspect of political bureaucracy in the Arabian Gulf and establishes the link between forced tribal loyalties and hegemonic bureaucracies. The system in place is inherently anti-democratic and fosters a distribution of favours and benefits to groups who have pledged allegiance to ruling families. This has come at the expense of political freedoms for local nationals. The irony is that Gulf countries have granted many privileges to foreign nationals yet have suppressed the political expression of local groups. The countries’ governance systems are not amenable to change nor will they tolerate change. Repression of dissent by force is unlikely to promote a climate of harmonious change and development

Allegiance · Bureaucracy · Corporate governance · Democracy · Development economics · Dilemma · Dissent · Economics · Hegemony · Political economy · Political repression · Political science · Politics · Islamic Studies and History · Law · Middle East Politics and Society · Military and Defense Studies

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