The Making of Contemporary Kuwait: Identity, Politics, and its Survival Strategy (Durham Modern Middle East and Islamic World Series) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1032563834 ISBN 13: 9781032563831

Publisher: Routledge, 2025

Synopsis

This book explores the contemporary history, governance, foreign policy, political economy, culture, and society of Kuwait. It highlights the dynamics of the country, putting forward both an overview of each subject covered and new research findings. It begins by providing a historical understanding of state formation and goes on to examine state structure, including the ruling monarchy, state legitimacy, and the creation of the Constitution and the National Assembly. It considers foreign policy, including the tools of diplomacy, the state’s regional and international approach, and the factors that have formed and reformed Kuwait’s strategic policy in the global arena. It assesses the economy, including rentierism, the labour market both for locals and for migrants, the class system, and the process of Kuwaitization; and it discusses Kuwaiti society and national identity, as well as investigates issues of women, civil society, youth, and the Bidoon minority. Overall, the book provides a full and detailed analysis of contemporary Kuwait and of the factors which are bringing about new developments.

About this title

About the Author

Mahjoob Zweiri is Professor in Contemporary Politics and History of the Middle East with focus on Iran and the Gulf region, and Director of the Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University.

Sinem Cengiz is Researcher in the Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University with focus on Gulf politics and society.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1032563834
• ISBN 13: 9781032563831
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 230
• Editor: Zweiri Mahjoob, Cengiz Sinem