"The six Arab states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are all monarchies, but their societies, economies and politics are organised primarily through kinship, in the form of extended families and tribes. No other region in the world consists of states so traditional in their organisation, but which are developing at rates well above global averages, and are ultra-modern in many other regards. The book examines the paradox of the persisting importance of family and tribe in the face of modernisation. It evaluates past and present roles of kinship in the GCC states, assesses the impact of change, and speculates on likely future patterns of social, economic and political organisation."--Back cover. Includes bibliographical references (p. [187]-191) and index.
Contents:
Rulers, merchants and shaikhs in Gulf politics / J.E. Peterson -- Transnational merchant families in the nineteenth- and twentieth-century Gulf / James Onley -- Changing circumstances : Gulf trading families in the light of free trade agreements, globalization and the WTO / Jean-François Seznec -- The oil boom and its impact on women and families in Saudi Arabia / Salwa al-Khateeb -- Gender, family and the new politics of the 2006 Kuwaiti election / Alanoud Alsharekh -- Family in the kinship state / Ali al-Tarrah -- Struggling for primacy : the ruling family and the state in contemporary Bahrain / Fred H. Lawson -- The family's role in the economy of the kingdom of Bahrain / Shaikha Hind bint Salman al-Khalifa -- Marriage, status and the politics of nationality in Oman / Mandana E. Limbert.
Summary:
"The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) countries are all monarchies, but their societies, economies and polities are organised primarily through kinship in the form of extended families and tribes. No other region in the world consists of states so traditional in their organisation developing at rates well above global averages, and which are ultra-modern in many other regards. The contributors examine the paradox of the persisting importance of family and tribe in the face of modernisation. They evaluate past and present roles of kinship in the GCC states, assess the impacts of change, and speculate on likely future patterns of social, economic and political organisation." -- Publisher description.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.