The Struggle For Democracy In The Middle East: Kuwait In Focus

Abstract

Kuwait has the longest modern history of political participation in the Middle East and being one of the first Arab Gulf states to venture into the democratic process. In the past, a council of the most powerful tribes in the city-state chose the Al-Sabah family for an individual leadership role rather than having rule imposed on the Kuwaiti people by force. The government was based on consultation, consensus, and cooperation between business familiesand the ruling family. This research therefore seeks to explore the early stages of democracy in Kuwait; from how it developed to what it has matured into. The research concludes that compared to the rest of the Gulf, the Kuwaiti experience of democracy is a leading one and is one of the best experiences of democracy in the Arab world. Despite all the shortcomings of this experience, it does provide an opportunity for citizens from different political tendencies from nationalists to Islamists and liberals to express their opinions through parliamentary elections and the media, and it has been the only ongoing democracy in the region in years.