Boom Amid Gloom

The Spirit of Possibility in the 21st Century Gulf

N. Janardhan, N Janardhan

• Publisher: Ithaca Press
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN: 9780863723735
• eBook ISBN: 9780863725241
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Middle Eastern History
• Index: Politics & International Relations

The first decade of the new millennium witnessed wide-ranging transformations in the six countries that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council. They entered unchartered waters by experimenting politically and socially, expanding economically and asserting their influence internationally. These attempts stemmed not only from the realization that such a shift is inevitable, but also from their newfound confidence that a blend of tradition and modernity can indeed survive alongside and complement each other. "Boom Amid Gloom" is an empirical study of seven themes that help test the pulse of these countries and indicate where they are headed during the course of the next few decades. Some of these game-changers are central to understanding how the 2003-2008 oil boom ushered in and nurtured an unparalleled sense of hope in the region, even as the global economic slowdown thereafter spread gloom in many parts of the world. The book analyzes how the region stands on the threshold of evolving from merely being oil-rich and rapidly modernizing to achieving a more balanced and sustainable model of overall development in future.

Table of contents

• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• 1 Political Reforms: Thinking Out of the Box
• 2 New Media: Catalyst for Liberalized Political Culture
• 3 New Growth: Economic Diversification and Knowledge Economy
• 4 Labour Reforms: Redefining the Rules of Engagement
• 5 Diplomatic Overdrive: The Making of Mediators
• 6 Gulf–Asia Ties: Emerging Contours of a New Security Architecture
• 7 Climate of Concern: Land of Black Gold Turns Green
• Conclusion
• References