The Arab Gulf States: Beyond Oil and Islam

If petroleum buys political legitimacy in the Arab Gulf states, how can we explain the rise of dissent and calls for political reform despite sustained oil revenues? The answer, according to Sean Foley, lies in political, social, and economic dynamics that have been brewing beneath the surface for more than a decade—and that are slowly shifting the balance of political power. While not disagreeing that oil revenues have been important in preserving the power of Gulf autocrats, Foley goes beyond popular stereotypes to identify other crucial forces —including the telecommunications revolution, the lack of jobs for major segments of the male population, and the increasing economic power of women and minority groups—that are conspiring to disrupt the status quo. It is these complex issues, Foley convincingly argues, that are at the forefront as the Arab Gulf states grapple with the challenges of both modernity and money.