Posted by Amna Al-Thani at Tuesday, March 29, 2011 6:25:53 PM EDT
This is an entry on the presentation of the book Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success by Christopher M. Donaldson. Our presentation covered Dubai's contemporary transformation and problems, as well as an important era in the history of the Gulf, at the end of the colonial era and the impact of Arab nationalism. It is valuable for those who are going to focus on the UAE, but it has interesting information on all the GCC countries as well.
The introduction covers Dubai's transformation into the premier trading entrepôt of the Gulf, with a massive metropolis 2 million people. It's diversification and post-oil development, how Dubai has managed to develop other industries for dependence, such as tourism. In addition to it expansion in commercial infrastructure, industrialization, a specialist free zone, luxury tourist sector, and a freehold real estate market. It also covers the problems facing Dubai; as a ‘peripheral’ economic structures continue to rely on bigger economies (Britain, Western Europe, the USA, Japan) depending on the ‘metropoles’ for its economic livelihood: foreign investment and tourism. Some see it as “super-exploitation of the broader national population." Where some districts are out of bounds for nationals. Also, there are geopolitical problems surrounding Dubai, such as the dangerous power blocs in the region.
Our presentation focused on chapter two, which covers Dubai's and the rest of the GCC's transformations from British protectorates to independence, and the emergence of external influences of Arab nationalism. &νβσπ;Dubai became a center for opposition to British rule in lower Gulf in 1940's and 50’s. This is a summary of the most important points covered:
•&νβσπ;Imported Arab Nationalism: influence from imported ideologies, foreign newspapers, etc.
o School expansion: there was a heavy reliance on graduates from Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, those with Arab nationalist views.
o Teacher-led underground nationalist groups. Supported by local notable merchants that attempted to broaden support.
•&νβσπ;Indigenous Arab nationalism and the Dubai ‘National Front’: not just teachers, Egypt's nationalism having psychological impacts on nationals.
o Britain’s interests: as the situation appears to be a threat to oil operations, it starts strategies for containing Arab nationalist threat.
•&νβσπ;Short Term Solutions: the Sudan connection. British officer from Sudan Defense Force.
o British endorse ruler, strengthen local security forces, reorganize Dubai’s courts, changes to the educational sector.
o Removing some of the more troublesome expatriate teachers from schools.
o Changes in levels of oil concessions: rise in consumerism, merchant families previously backing the ‘national front’ had businesses to run - concentrating on the oil boom rather than on political reform.
•&νβσπ;Long Lasting Solutions: fear that unless Britain established stronger states in Dubai and the Trucial territories, they would be highly vulnerable to external interference, thus, a threat to Britain’s valuable oil concessions. The Soviet Union was another threat to Western oil interests.
o Agreement with British, Dubai and its neighbors come together separate from Arab nationalist support, and have some measure of collective security following Britain’s eventual withdrawal from the region.
o Britain encourages rulers to build upon Trucial-wide institutions, for some form of federation of sheikhdoms. The British had to lead this process; otherwise the Arab league would become the architect of such a union in the lower Gulf. Building blocks: Trucial council, Trucial army, and a Trucial fund. Wanted to give rulers management of their own affairs and some experience of foreign relations.
o Abu Dhabi oil revenues beginning to flow, in a position to contribute over 80% of the budget making the Council financially self-sufficient.
•&νβσπ;The United Arab Emirates: Full British withdrawal 1967, signal of the end of imperialism and to reduce the pressure of Arab nationalism on the rulers. Britain wanted to create a loose and decentralized system retaining monarchial powers and respecting local institutions. After many challenges and interruptions, and possible inclusion of Qatar and Bahrain, Dubai and the six other emirates had a federation, with Abu Dhabi as the capital, they were able to define territory, get recognized by the UN, agree on a flag, currency, etc.
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