Perspectives on Politics, Volume 13, Issue 03, September 2015, pp 898-899 Michael Herb is an accomplished scholar of the Gulf Arab states and his new book appeals to the growing academic and policy interest in the sub-region.
Perspectives on Politics, Volume 13, Issue 03, September 2015, pp 898-899
Michael Herb is an accomplished scholar of the Gulf Arab states and his new book appeals to the growing academic and policy interest in the sub-region. Conducting research in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states presents challenges: state surveillance, lack of transparency in government decision-making, including access to basic demographic and economic data, and the cultural aversion to discussing political matters publicly. Herb makes an important move forward in the field by applying both methodological discipline and standard concepts of comparative politics to his cases.
Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE see the decline of Islamist groups in North Africa as a win for regional stability and cooperation; but even if Islamist parties may be slowly fading from the picture, this by no means suggests they are disappearing.
The same conditions that have enabled steady economic growth in the UAE have also provided legislative loopholes and opportunities for criminal and illicit activities; but ensuring an attractive business environment is a fundamental priority to boost the country’s economic recovery.
Energy transitions are by their nature disruptive, but the pandemic has introduced a risk factor that might play out for years to come.
Through its careful examination of the forces shaping the evolution of Gulf societies and the new generation of emerging leaders, AGSIW facilitates a richer understanding of the role the countries in this key geostrategic region can be expected to play in the 21st century.
Learn More
