Monarchies and Nations

Globalisation and Identity in the Arab States of the Gulf

Paul Dresch, James P. Piscatori

• Publisher: I.B. Tauris
• Year: 2005
• Print ISBN: 9781850439714
• eBook ISBN: 9780857714855
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Middle Eastern History
• Index: Politics & International Relations

Despite their small populations, the Arab states of the Gulf exercise an enormous and global influence. But all-too-often, these states are treated as if their only importance were as pawns in a global strategic board game and are simply dealt with as mere models of the intersection of oil, wealth and power. Here, Dresch and Piscatori bring together a more nuanced picture: exploring how the citizen populations of these states define themselves in a wider context. The Gulf provides extreme examples of the nexus of identities, not only because these polities are so dependent on transnational flows of wealth and imagery, but because at home the citizen workforce is often outnumbered by migrant labour. Examining the issues such as Gulf-owned transnational media, the role of women in the Kuwaiti state and the way Saudi Arabia manages the yearly influx of pilgrims for the Hajj, Monarchies and Nations is essential reading for all those interested in the society, politics and the future security of the Gulf.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Contents
• Contributors
• Preface
• Introduction - Societies, Identities and Global Issues
• Part 1 - Culture and Connectedness
• Part II - Local Identities: The Importance of Nation-States
• Part III - Practical and Moral Order
• Index