British diplomacy in Oman and Bahrain : 50 years of change / Joe Worthington.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Worthington, Joe (Policy advisor), author.

Series:

Routledge studies in Middle Eastern politics.

Routledge studies in Middle Eastern politics

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Great Britain--Foreign relations--Oman.

Great Britain.

Great Britain--Foreign relations--Bahrain.

Oman--Foreign relations--Great Britain.

Oman.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (239 pages)

Place of Publication:

London ; New York, New York : Routledge, [2023]

Summary:

"This book marks the first comprehensive examination of contemporary British influence in Oman and Bahrain, analysing Britain's legacy since the official withdrawal from the Gulf in 1971. Using theories of power as a framework, the book examines the development of British economic, strategic and political influence in the two countries post-withdrawal; a topic overlooked by academics and political observers. The author argues that a divergence has developed between Britain's influence in Oman (a site of strategic power) and Bahrain (a site of economic power). Focusing on the British Government, private corporations and individuals, topics range from the development of British Foreign Direct Investments and the presence of British oil and gas companies in the region, to joint defence training exercises and the presence of Omani and Bahraini military cadets in British military academies. The book also crucially assesses the increasing influence that the Gulf states are gaining over Britain as the legacy of the Residency gradually fades. British Diplomacy in Oman and Bahrain will be useful to students and scholars studying politics and economics in the Gulf and Britain, as well as policy analysts, International Relations experts, and historians interested in the legacy of colonialism"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Series Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Table of Contents

List of Tables

Acknowledgements

List of Abbreviations

1 Introduction

1.1 Historiography - legacy and power in Britain's bilateral relations with Oman and Bahrain

1.1.1 Britain's historic experience in Oman

1.1.2 Establishing the foundations of Britain's contemporary influence in Oman

1.1.3 Britain's historic experience in Bahrain

1.2 Theory: Themes in British power and influence

1.2.1 What is soft power?

1.2.2 Bases of power

1.2.3 Power used by states

1.2.4 Soft power through influence

1.2.5 Power as capability

1.2.6 Power as balance

1.2.7 Power as security

1.2.8 Smart power

2 The foundations of British power in Oman: past and present

2.1 British involvement in the Dhofar War

2.1.1 Turning the tide of the war

2.1.2 Beginning of the end of the rebellion

2.1.3 Effect of Dhofar on British influence in Oman

2.2 The Arab Spring in Oman and its impact on Britain's influence

2.2.1 Protests after the Arab Spring in Oman

2.2.2 Effect of Oman's protests on Anglo-Omani relations

PART I: Strategic power, defence and security

3 Britain's strategic engagement with Oman and the development of a new power dynamic

3.1 Introduction

3.1.1 Legacy in action

3.2 How has Britain utilised its privileged strategic education capabilities to secure influence in Oman?

3.2.1 Oman's presence in British military academies

3.2.2 Oman's wider security educational presence

3.3 How do joint security exercises contribute to the development of the UK-Omani relationship?

3.3.1 Shared defence exercises in Oman

3.4 How does the loan service personnel relationship influence British power in Oman?

3.4.1 Continued reliance on British expertise.

3.4.2 Loan service personnel and British arms sales

3.4.3 A relationship shift

3.5 What influence do arms sales to Oman have on Britain's influence?

3.5.1 Defence contracts after the end of hegemony

3.5.2 Continued preference to buy British

3.6 Britain's strategic influence in Oman and future engagement with the Sultanate

3.6.1 Britain's power transition in Oman

3.6.2 A relationship built on its legacy

3.7 What impact will the succession from Qaboos to Haitham have on Britain's strategic influence in Oman?

3.8 Policy implications arising from Britain's strategic influence in Oman

4 Britain's shifting strategic power in Bahrain since 1971

4.1 Introduction

4.1.1 A continued power legacy or loss of influence?

4.2 How have Britain's military and security education capabilities affected influence in Bahrain?

4.2.1 The effects of political divisions in Britain

4.2.2 British commitment and re-engagement in Bahrain

4.2.3 Education as an attempt to retain influence

4.3 To what extent does bilateral military cooperation between Britain and Bahrain contribute to the power discourse?

4.3.1 How should Bahraini requests for British assistance be understood in terms of power?

4.3.2 The financial element of UK-Bahraini strategic cooperation

4.3.3 Limitations of bilateral cooperation

4.3.4 Bahrain's perception of risk and the resulting degree of cooperation with Britain

4.4 How have British arms sales contributed to the retention of British power in Bahrain?

4.4.1 An emerging British dependence on arms sales to Bahrain?

4.4.2 Convergence between defence economics and strategic priorities

4.5 How do British public relations companies employed by Bahrain's Government affect Britain's power in the Kingdom?

4.5.1 The financial aspect of advising.

4.6 Shifting power balances and the future of UK-Bahraini strategic affairs

4.6.1 The internationalisation of Britain's security presence in Bahrain

4.6.2 A contemporary relationship and a power shift

4.6.3 A model for future international cooperation

PART II: Trade and the power of money

5 Omani prosperity and the British power dimension

5.1 Introduction

5.1.1 Economic diversification in Oman and the British connection

5.2 Arms for influence. What impact does export financing have on British power in Oman?

5.2.1 The British commitment to arming Oman

5.2.2 British export financing and the resulting influence

5.2.3 The power dimension to export finance

5.3 What impact does the legacy of British exclusivity have on Oman's oil and gas sector?

5.3.1 The start of Omani nationalisation

5.3.2 The British role in Oman's energy market development

5.3.3 Competition to Britain's influence in Oman's energy markets

5.4 How has the Omani diversification agenda affected Britain's economic influence?

5.4.1 Britain's necessary shift from hard to soft power

5.4.2 Malaysian involvement in Omani diversification

5.4.3 Sectoral diversification and the British footprint

5.5 The future development of economic bilateralism and the role of FDI

5.5.1 The multi-faceted nature of bilateral business representation

5.5.2 The British Business Forum

5.5.3 Representation of British interests in Oman

5.5.4 The impact of British FDI into Oman on the power dynamics

5.5.5 FDI as one element of the wider bilateral relationship

5.5.6 External factors affecting Britain's economic influence

5.5.7 Domestic factors affecting Britain's economic influence

5.6 The power of British money in Oman

5.6.1 Implications of the continued British economic influence in Oman.

6 The development of UK-Bahraini economic influence since withdrawal

6.1 Introduction

6.2 British economic influence in the years after withdrawal

6.2.1 Bilateralism and a shift in the relationship

6.3 The arms trade since withdrawal

6.3.1 The power dimension of arms sales

6.3.2 The impact of marketing British arms to Bahraini decision makers

6.3.3 Competition to Britain's retained hegemony

6.3.4 The emergence of a competitive arms sales process

6.3.5 British attempts to retain influence in Bahrain

6.3.6 Re-engagement and arms sales since withdrawal

6.4 British power retention within Bahrain's economic diversification

6.4.1 Britain and Bahrain's oil and gas industry

6.4.2 Britain's contribution to Bahraini diversification

6.4.3 Economic shifts in Bahrain

6.5 Why has Britain remained an influential partner in financial market cooperation with Bahrain?

6.5.1 Islamic finance cooperation

6.5.2 British assistance with Bahrain's financial modernisation

6.5.3 Financial education and the power of learning

6.6 Bahraini financial reforms and the resulting British influence

6.6.1 British governmental support for reforms

6.6.2 Limitations of British assistance

6.6.3 Public-private cooperation

6.6.4 Governmental funding for Bahraini development

6.7 An economic legacy under strain?

6.7.1 The relevance of this research - UK-Bahraini economics

7 British power in review

7.1 Historical foundations

7.2 Contributing factors to the power legacy

7.3 Legacy of arms sales

7.4 Convergence of Britain's strategic and economic priorities

7.5 Economic priorities

7.6 British re-engagement in the Gulf

7.7 The commercialisation of influence and privatisation of bilateral affairs

7.8 What effect will the death of Sultan Qaboos have on British influence in Oman?.

7.9 Policy implications of this research and future research opportunities

7.9.1 Implications of cross-governmental working on the British position in the Gulf

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781003302001

1003302009

9781000798296

1000798291

OCLC:

1344378246