New visions and old problems. How will the Arab Gulf countries cope with reduced incomes from oil?

September 20, 2017.
Lecture with Martin Hvidt, Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Southern Denmark
The Arab Gulf states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar Saudi Arabia, UAE) have built their states and societies around plentiful incomes from oil and gas. A social contract between the rulers and the population is in play, where the rulers distribute oil money to the citizens in exchange for loyalty. With increasing economic stress, due to low oil prices and rapidly growing populations, the rulers now face a situation where they must cut back on the benefits and even make the population pay for basic services. The presentation will discuss the challenges this present to the social contract.