Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 01/2013

Overview of the smaller GCC states (Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, UAE) and the effect of the "Arab Spring" uprisings

December 2012

Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre

Abstract

In light of the “Arab Spring”, a consensus has formed among the five smaller countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council to reject domestic political reform, reinforce authoritarian practices, ignore human rights, adopt forward policies against Iran and the Assad regime in Syria, and unequivocally support the minority Sunni dynasty in Bahrain. Hydrocarbon rents have been used to co-opt native populations and stifle dissent. All these countries have reinforced their military and intelligence ties to the U.S. The opacity of political decision-making and practices, including on matters of succession and the rampant corruption of the ruling families, render these regimes vulnerable to potential opposition forces, especially if ruling Islamists in Egypt and (possibly) Syria are eventually perceived to have “succeeded” in bringing about more accountable forms of government.