The Political Culture of Leadership in the United Arab Emirates

by Rugh, Andrea B.

• ISBN13: 9780230105003
• ISBN10: 0230105009
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-10-15
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

The book describes the impact of cultural perceptions on rulers' behaviors in the United Arab Emirates, once the Trucial States. Despite differences in size, economic resources, and external political pressures, the seven emirates' rulers utilized very similar cultural expectations to gain the support of others. The author describes what has generally been only touched upon before--the significant but largely "invisible" roles women and marriage play in the political process of tribal societies.

Author Biography

Andrea B. Rugh is an Adjunct Scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC. She has a PhD in Anthropology from the American University in D.C. Between the years 1964 and 1995, she lived more than 25 years in the Middle East region, including three years spent in the United Arab Emirates. Her publications include, among others, four books on Arab society: Coping with Poverty in a Cairo Community, Family in Contemporary Egypt, Reveal and Conceal: Dress in Egypt, Within the Circle: Parents and Children in a Syrian Village plus introductions and English versions of   Siham Tergeman’s Daughter of Damascus and Samir Tahhan’s  Folktales of Syria.

Table of Contents

The Economic and Political Context * The Cultural Context * Early Leaders of Abu Dhabi * Zaid the Great and Consolidation of Abu Dhabi * The Bani Sultan and the Transformation of Abu Dhabi * The Maktums (Al Bu Falasa) and the Development of Dubai * Sharja and Ras al Khaima During Early Qawasim Rule * Sharja and Ras al Khaima Separate under Qawasim Rule * Preserving Ajman Independence under Al Bu Khuraiban * Um al Qaiwain's Survival under the Mualla * The Sharkiyin and Pursuit of Fujairan Independence * The Political Culture of Leadership