In their book, Tribalism and Political Power in the Gulf, Alanoud Al-Sharekh and Courtney Freer examine the political role of tribes in Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates by tracing the historical relationship between ruling elites and nomadic tribes, analyzing the role of tribes in domestic political life and social hierarchies, and revealing how they serve as major political actors in the Gulf.

While Gulf societies are often described as intensely tribal, the role of tribalism and tribal identity is often overlooked in discussions of state building and national identity. AGSIW hosted a discussion around this book to examine the roles that tribes play in popular participation in government and policymaking and the extent of the domestic political power of tribes.