Kuwait's politics before independence : the role of the balancing powers / Abdulrahman Alebrahim.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Alebrahim, Abdulrahman, author.

Series:

Exeter critical Gulf series ; volume 2.

Gulf studies.

Exeter critical Gulf series ; volume 2

Gulf studies at Gerlach Press

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kuwait--Politics and government--20th century.

Kuwait.

Kuwait--History--20th century.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ix, 229 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berlin : Gerlach Press, 2019.

Summary:

This book re-examines the historiography of constitutional development in Kuwait. It argues that existing scholarship on the subject has several shortcomings due to the lack of consideration given to the role played by some important social forces in the Kuwaiti political scene. <br><br>Most historians working on Kuwait's modern politics have focussed on two forces: the ruling family and the merchants. Although these two actors have undeniably been the most influential, other segments of society, such as the labour force, the villagers, the intelligentsia and the religious scholars, should not be overlooked. These forces have had a decisive impact, with varying levels of influence across time, on the balance of power in Kuwait.<br><br>This book generates new insights by considering the role of these balancing forces in influencing the struggle between the sheikhs and the merchants over the nature of the political system in Kuwait between 1921 and 1962.

Contents:

Intro

Half Title

Series Page

Title

Copyright

Contents

Acknowledgements

1 Introduction: The Balancing Powers: A New Approach to Study Kuwait's History

2 Kuwait's Institutional Development until 1921

Establishment of the Ruling System in Kuwait

The Role of the Economy in the Relationship between Sheikhs and Merchants

Mubarak al-Sabah's Rule (1896-1915)

The Reigns of Jabir and Salim (1915-1921)

The Emergence of Institutions in Kuwait during the Reigns of Mubarak and his Sons

3 The Emergence of Political Institutions

Social Stratification and Divisions in the Pre-Oil Era

1921 Shura Council (Majlis al-Shura)

The Development of Cultural and Administrative Institutions

4 The 1938 Legislative Council

The Rise in Power of the National Bloc

Roots and Inspirations of the Bloc

The Impact of the Iraqi Media in the Establishment of the Legislative Council

The 1938 Council's Reforms

The Dissolution of the Council

The British Attitude towards the 1938 Legislative Council

The Role of the Balancing Powers in the Outcome of the Struggle

The Second Legislative Council in 1939

Conclusion

5 Wielding Power: The Sheikhs' Domination on Kuwaiti Politics (1939-1956)

Power Dynamics within the Ruling Family between 1921 and 1938

The Rise of the Awlad Salim (1940-1950)

The 1950 Succession of Ahmad al-Jabir

'Abd Allah al-Salim's Challenged Consolidation of His Rule

The British Struggle with the Heads of Hereditary Institutions

6 The Balancing Powers during the Oil Era

The Constitution of an Intelligentsia

A New M'azib?

7 The Balancing Powers' Crucial Political Role, 1957-1962

The Arab Nationalists' Involvement in External Affairs

The Apogee of the Arab Nationalist Movement

The Sheikhs Assert their Power (1957-1960).

The Balancing Powers' Role in Establishing the Nascent State - Kuwait's Independence and Qasim's Thr

The Return of the 1938 Majlis Movement's Merchants

The New Constitution: The Balancing Powers Sweep the 1961 Elections

The Direct Confrontation between the Balancing Powers and the Sheikhs

The Constitutional Committee: Negotiating the Balance of Power

Kuwait's Constitutional Framework

8 Concluding Remarks

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

Notes

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

List of Sources

Primary Sources

Secondary Sources.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 12 Sep 2025).

ISBN:

3-95994-071-8

OCLC:

1122452767