As the Muslim Brotherhood ascends to power, a question remains on how the once “banned” group will handle the issue of ties with the Arab Gulf states. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are today the two states in the Gulf that are most skeptical of the Muslim Brotherhood. And yet these are precisely the two countries that Egypt’s Brotherhood must try its best to build bridges with. Read more »
Articles
Tribalism in the Arabian Peninsula: It Is a Family Affair
Tribal connections in the region once formed a powerful force of resistance to colonial powers and contributed to a collective Arab peninsular identity. Historically, this network formed through tribal affiliations assured a layer of trust among its members that was vital for survival. Today, however, tribalism is perhaps second only to religion as the greatest obstacle standing in the way of a civil and democratic state in the Arabian Peninsula. Lately, tribalism has been a component of the so-called exceptionalism theory of the Gulf States monarchies that have weathered the Arab uprisings through a variety of means.
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Reform in Arab Gulf regimes is unattainable – for now
Much has been said over the past 12 months about the need for reform and democratisation by Arab Gulf governments. While it is evident that Gulf governments have an aversion to genuine democratic reform, it is far too simplistic to put the blame for political stagnation squarely on them. For behind these governments is a network of interests so powerful and intricately woven that it acts as a resistance lever even in the rare instances where serious political reform is suggested. Read more »
Pioneer Bloggers in the Gulf Arab States
Long before Facebook updates and 140-character tweets, a number of cyber activists defined the landscape of non-government led opinion in the Gulf Arab states. In less than a decade, a group of bloggers—many of whom have never met—has paved the way for the emergence of the “other opinion” that was and continues to be largely missing from the government controlled Gulf Arab media. The shake-up to traditional media that these blogging pioneers caused was no less significant than what Al Jazeera’s arrival did to the moribund government-controlled television channels of the Arab world. Read more »
Ahmed Aboutaleb: On a mission to regenerate
Making my way down the corridor of the magnificent Stadhuis, Rotterdam’s City Hall, a pre-First World War architectural landmark, towards the office of the mayor, I was greeted with the familiar words “As Salam Alaikum”. The Stadhuis, office of the mayor of Rotterdam is, sadly, one of a very few buildings that survived the relentless bombardment by the German Luftwaffe in May 1940 and today stands as a symbol of regeneration and hope in this city of 600,000. During my recent sojourn in the Netherlands, I had the opportunity to meet with Ahmed Aboutaleb, Rotterdam’s mayor and perhaps one of the most accomplished emigrants in Europe. Read more »
Arab Monarchies: Surviving the Revolts
The reason some Arab monarchies ceased to exist varies from popular revolutions to military coups. However one feature they shared is their lack of ability to adapt to the changing geopolitical environment of surrounding countries from South Asia to Africa, gaining their independence and empowering their people as well as their own citizens. However, the need to adapt to a changing environment is now more necessary than ever. Read more »