Tribalism and Political Power in the Gulf

Insightfully … the book presents a historical, conceptual and digital understanding of tribal mechanisms in these states and represents an outstanding contribution to Gulf studies. * International Affairs *
This book is essential for a meaningful understanding of the prevailing political, social and economic conditions of the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. An admirable contribution to the literature that will stand the test of time. – Hossein G. Askari, Iran Professor of International Business and International Affairs, The George Washington University, USA
A richly nuanced study of the changing relations of tribe and state in the Arabian Peninsula. The authors pose a fresh challenge to the prominent notion that the rentier state has significantly limited the role of independent actors, and especially tribes, in contributing to national identity formation in the Gulf region. A most welcome contribution that will attract the interest of scholars working across the social sciences. – Philip S. Khoury, Ford International Professor of History, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
Concentrating on the impact of tribes in the three Gulf states with high income and small national populations, Freer and Alsharekh ably explain tribal importance in badu identity, electoral politics, and their continuing sociopolitical role – J.E. Peterson, historian and political analyst

Alanoud al-Sharekh is the Director of Ibtkar Strategic Consultancy, leading political, leadership, and diversity training programs in Kuwait and the GCC region. She is chairperson of the Abolish 153 campaign to end honor killing legislations and a cofounder of Mudhawis List, a platform to support women running for political office. Her research won the Arab Prize for best publication in a foreign journal in 2014. Her books, including The Gulf Family and Popular and Political Cultures of the Arabian Gulf States, examine the persistent importance of family and tribe in modern Gulf politics and society. She is currently a MENA Fellow at Chatham House and a Research Fellow at AGISW.

Courtney Freer is Assistant Research Fellow at the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is the author of Rentier Islamism: The Influence of the Muslim Brotherhood in Gulf Monarchies (2018).

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