Democracy and Youth in the Middle East Islam, Tribalism and the Rentier State in Oman

by al-Farsi, Sulaiman

• ISBN13: 9781780760902
• ISBN10: 1780760906
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2013-07-25
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris

Summary

The leaders of the oil-rich rentier states of the Middle East, and in particular in the Gulf, have hitherto often predicated their legitimacy on a tacit social contract with their (much poorer) populations. This social contract consists of little or no direct taxation, with some sort of subsidized living. But the casualty of this tacit agreement is often political participation, an issue which has come to the forefront in the Middle East following the 'Arab Spring' of 2011. Here, Sulaiman Al-Farsi looks at the impact the rentier nature of the Gulf States has on political participation, focusing on the nexus between tribe, religion and a new generation of young, highly educated citizens that is present in Oman. Specifically exploring the concept of shura (consultation), and how nascent concepts of democracy in the practice of shura have impacted and shaped the process of democratization, Al-Farsi's book is vital in the examination of the political discourse surrounding democratization across one of the most strategically important, but little understood states in the Middle East.

Author Biography

Sulaiman Al-Farsi holds a PhD in Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds, UK.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. The Context of Democratisation in the Arab World
2. The Omani Context
3. The 'Top-Down' Model: Challenges to its Success
4. The Traditional Model: Theology of Ibadism and Modernity
5. The 'Bottom-Up' Model: Ambitions and Challenges
6. Discussion and Conclusions