All in the Family: Absolutism, Revolution, and Democracy in the Middle Eastern Monarchies

(You can download Chapter One in PDF format - you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.)

The publisher's blurb on the back of the book:

"One of the most insightful and important contributions of the book lies in its well-articulated critique of the (simplistic) 'rentier state' theory, which attributes the resilience of Gulf regimes to their oil wealth and consequent ability to buy off the opposition. Such a critique is long overdue. The author's arguments and evidence to challenge the rentier theory should by themselves ensure that this book will receive much attention."-- Guilain Denoeux, Colby College

Michael Herb proposes a new paradigm for understanding politics in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. He critiques the theory of the rentier state and argues that we must put political institutions--and specifically monarchism--at the center of any explanation of Gulf politics. All in the Family provides a compelling and fresh analysis of the importance of monarchism in the region, and points out the crucial role of the ruling families in creating monarchal regimes. It addresses the issue of democratization in the Middle Eastern monarchies, arguing that the prospects for the gradual emergence of constitutional monarchy are better than is often thought.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Explanations for Revolution
Dynastic Monarchy
Rentier Income
The Educated (or New) Middle Class
Political Participation and Revolution
The Scope of the Study, Theoretic Appproach, and the Cases Examined

2. The Emergence of Dynastic Monarchy and the Causes of Its Persistence

The Rise of the Arabian Dynasties
Norms within the Ruling Families
Marriage and Dynastic Monarchism
Consultation and the Mediation of Dynastic Rule
The Resolution of Disputes within the Dynasties

3.Arabian Society and the Emergence of the Petro-State

Ascriptive Status in Arabia
Elite Clans
The Merchants
The Rise of the Educated Middle Class
The Relative Decline of the Bedouin
Foreigners

4. The Dynasties: The Al Sabah and the Al Saud

5.The Dynasties: The Al Thani, Al Khalifa, Al Nahayan, Al Maktum, and Al Said

6. Strategies of Regime and Opposition in the Dynastic Monarchies

7. Libya and Afghanistan

8. Five Nondynastic Monarchies

Egypt
Iraq
Iran
Morocco
Jordan

9. Dynastic Monarchism and the Persistence of Hereditary Rule

Dynastic Monarchy
Other Explanations
Education
Rentierism, Revolution, and Resilience
Opposition
The Composition of the Military
Tribe and Kin as Inclusionary Political Institutions
Foreign Powers
Parliaments
Statecraft
The Lessons of the Dynastic Monarchies

10. The Theory of the Rentier State and Constitutional Monarchy in the Middle East

The Theory of the Rentier State
When Parliamentary Liberalizations Succeed
The Flexibility of Monarchical Institutions in Accommodating Democratic Compromises
The Absolutisms and Western Policy
Monarchy and Political Development

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