This textbook offers an in-depth introduction to Gulf Politics, focusing on political systems and developments in the region. It covers the states of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Iran and analyzes their role within the broader Middle East. The book is suitable for students seeking a clear and coherent overview of the region’s political dynamics.
With contributions from leading experts, it highlights the influence of oil and rentierism, state formation, regime types, religion, foreign relations, and migration. In addition, it addresses the role of tribal structures, regional integration, and the trade elite in state-building. This makes it an indispensable source for education on the Gulf and the GCC.
This introduction to the Gulf provides a clear overview of the complex power relations and governance in the region and emphasizes the enduring strategic significance of the Gulf within the international system.