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2010 Kuwait archive
2008-2009 Kuwait archive
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2002 and earlier Kuwait archives
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Kuwait debates boundary changes to reduce the personal component in parliamentary politics
Momentum is gathering behind a campaign to redraw constituency boundaries, to counter the influence of personal and tribal connections, and strengthen policy debate in elections and the National Assembly. Arguments are expected over the government’s cautious response.
Issue 724, 12 November 2003. more
Reform agenda
Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah seems set to press ahead with important liberalising economic measures, including a proposal to end the 49% limit on foreign shareholdings in local companies.
Issue 724, 12 November 2003. more
New Kuwait assembly could open door to reform
Economic reform looks set to dominate the early agenda for Kuwait’s revamped government leadership as newly appointed Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah considers how best to exploit post-election goodwill among parliamentarians.
Issue 715, 27 July 2003. more
Kuwait looks for early ties with post-Saddam Iraq
As the American-led coalition struggles with the rebuilding of Iraq’s political, industrial and even social infrastructure, the country’s neighbour to the south-east is taking early steps to forge ties that could help integrate the country into the broader region in the period following the fall of Saddam Hussein’s isolated regime.
Issue 714, 11 July 2003. more
Kuwait vote shifts power away from parliament,
but may open door to reform
With the ailing Crown Prince Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah increasingly ill and unable to govern, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah stands next in line for the premiership (see box), and has emerged the one clear winner from a Kuwaiti general election that struck a severe blow against the country’s party political establishment.
Issue 714, 11 July 2003. more
GSN View: Women's rights in Kuwait
Is it possible to be a modern, outward-looking society, with aspirations to regional leadership that are largely rooted in a track record of transparency and political freedom, and yet to deny women the vote?
That is the question Kuwait’s Sunni Islamist and conservative tribal members of Parliament have to ask themselves about an issue that will not go away at a time of reform in Qatar and Bahrain, debate about democracy in Iraq and increased US pressure on all Arabian states to modernise their political structures.
Issue 712, 13 June 2003. more
Kuwaiti planners look to reinvigorated post-Saddam northern Gulf
Kuwaitis in government and civil society are already preparing for life after régime change in Iraq and the chance to begin rebuilding normal ties with their northern neighbour. Emergency precautions for a retaliatory attack by Baghdad, and for handling overspill impacts from the war inside Iraq, now dominate the public agenda.
Issue 705, 7 March 2003. more
Kuwait Prepares Uncomfortable Front Row Seat
As US and UK forces build up for a new Gulf war, no country other than Iraq has more at stake in this stage of the conflict than Kuwait.
In Kuwait City the sense of waiting, almost of expectation, is palpable. The usual turf wars and political sniping continue, but there is also an admirable sense of national purpose, with civil society groups playing an important role.
Issue 704, 21 February 2003. more
Kuwait, wracked by doubts, awaits new blood
Doubts, uncertainty and political wrangling over leadership and corruption beset Kuwait on the verge of a potentially transforming period in its history. Regime change in Iraq would allow a rich, well-equipped and intellectually open country to diversify away from its reliance on oil and emerge as a service hub and trade gateway for the northern Gulf. But there is concern that, preoccupied with internal struggles between Islamists and liberals, and hampered by uncertainty over the line of succession in the ruling Al-Sabah family, Kuwait may fail to fully seize this chance.
Issue 704, 21 February 2003. more
IMF sees ‘favourable’ medium-term outlook
In its annual Article IV assessment of the economy, the International Monetary Fund on 2 January called Kuwait’s medium-term economic outlook positive, while warning of the perennial threat of fluctuating oil prices.
Issue 701, 10 January 2003. more
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| 2002 and earlier Archives – Kuwait |
‘Apology’ cements Kuwaiti unity against Saddam
Saddam Hussein’s perversely worded new “apology” for his 1990 invasion, has served only to reinforce Kuwaitis’ acceptance of the growing American military presence in their diminutive oil rich state.
Although longstanding domestic political battles continue, Kuwait’s often fractious parliament has been united in condemning the Iraqi leader’s remarks. Already strong feelings of national identity have been enhanced.
Issue 700, 20 December 2002. more
Kuwait feels the heat of Al-Qaeda blow-back
Beware of returning veterans from the Afghan wars, even if they are your countrymen, kinsmen and/or co-religionists. This is the lesson Kuwait is learning as the leading role of Kuwaiti-born Islamist radicals becomes ever more apparent in the Al-Qaeda set up and the ‘war against terror’ comes to the Emirate as it gears up for another US-led conflict with Iraq.issue Issue 698, 21 November 2002. more
Kuwait’s ongoing security dilemma
The protection offered by Western security guarantees is essential: Kuwait has long been the most militarily vulnerable Gulf Co-operation Council state, as is again apparent to Kuwaitis as a U.S. military build-up places the Emirate firmly in the Baghdad regime’s crosshairs.
Issue 695, 9 October 2002. more
Kuwaiti women’s rights: If at first you don’t succeed…
The new Seven Plus One grouping of liberal and nationalist parliamentarians has been holding talks with reform-minded ministers to prepare the ground for a fresh attempt to secure National Assembly approval of women’s political rights.
Issue 694, 27 September 2002. more
Kuwait’s parliamentary complexities holds up basic democratic right
Pity the reformer who wants to push change through the Gulf’s most vibrant, but simultaneously most unproductive, legislative body. Kuwaiti politicians are manoeuvring in the run-up to elections one year from now, but this means more delay in pushing legislation through the fractious National Assembly, rather than a last-minute glut of bills lining up for approval.
Issue 690, 10 July 2002. more
Kuwait wakes up to offset shortfalls
The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin and fellow members of the consortium negotiating to sell Apache military helicopters to Kuwait are in advanced discussions with the Finance Ministry over the offset projects that will form an integral part of the $800 million deal.
Issue 689, 26 June 2002. more
Return to first principles in reform strategy
With most Kuwaitis yet to feel the impact of his reforms, Finance Minister Youssef Al-Ibrahim is battling to maintain political headway for his far-reaching programme of structural change. But the long-term implications for economic culture, the labour market and investment patterns are profound—which partly explains why the minister has become the target of a ferocious parliamentary campaign, which could culminate in a grilling and confidence vote over political funding allegations.
Issue 688, 12 June 2002. more
Islamists gain ground, ‘progressives’ respond
as leadership issues beckon ahead of 2003 elections
Liberals and traditional leftwing nationalist parliamentarians have come together to forge a united progressive bloc—the National Alliance (NA)—to defend personal freedoms and the role of the 1962 democratic constitution as the foundation of law and national policy, but their campaign hopes for the 2003 general elections will meet strong resistance from powerful and well-funded Islamist movements.
Issue 687, 29 May 2002. more
Setbacks for Kuwait modernisers underline reform challenge
Modernisers have suffered another blow with the resignations of Oil Minister Adel Al-Subaih and Kuwait’s chief spokesman in the USA, while there is growing pressure for a parliamentary investigation into Finance Minister Youssef Al-Ibrahim’s affairs. This is a setback for Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, who has been trying to prod the country into fresh thinking.
Issue 680, 20 February 2002. more
Kuwait’s Iranian, Qatari gas deals aim to enhance security
Kuwait’s Oil Minister Adel Al-Subaih is under pressure—with his very future in doubt as GSN went to press—but he has confirmed that Kuwait is pressing on with efforts to conclude a gas import deal with Iran, to supply industrial ventures, particularly in the petrochemical sector.
Issue 679, 6 February 2002. more
Political wrangles immobilise economic initiatives
On 15 January Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah returned home after almost four months health treatment in the U.K. and nearly one year on from a cabinet reshuffle which had sparked hopes of a regeneration of domestic politics.
Issue 678, 23 January 2002. more
Emir’s illness puts political questions into perspective
Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah has taken an even more central role while Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah pursues the slow course of recovery from his recent stroke.
Issue 672, 17 October 2001. more
Emir recuperates, succession questions simmer
Officials have reported a continuing recovery by Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, who was flown to London’s Churchill Hospital on 21 September having suffered a stroke.
Issue 671, 3 October 2001. more
Hydrocarbons Developments Awaited
Moves to demarcate the maritime border with Iran could soon bear fruit, potentially opening the way for Kuwait to exploit its prospective offshore Dorrah gas field, shared with the Islamic Republic and Saudi Arabia (GSN 662/8).
Issue 664, 25 June 2001. more
More power, fewer friends
Iraq's President Saddam Hussein must be congratulating himself on a particularly good month. In pursuit of his blatantly obvious goal of establishing himself as the pre-eminent leader of the Arab world, he has bullied Opec into a new, coherent strategy on prices and production and scared the wits out of his Arab Gulf neighbours.
Issue 391, 6 August 1990.
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Restoration of democracy in Kuwait looks highly unlikely
Restoration of democracy in Kuwait looks highly unlikely after the Ruler, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed, rejected a petition from leading citizens calling for a new National Assembly.
Issue 376, 11 December 1989.Download the PDF
2010 Kuwait archive
2008-2009 Kuwait archive
2006-2007 Kuwait archive
2004-2005 Kuwait archive
2003 Kuwait archive
2002 and earlier Kuwait archives
Return to main GSN's World Kuwait page
Select another country
