Crackdown will complicate economic reform in the Gulf

Abstract

Subject Narrowing political freedom in the Gulf. Significance Political freedoms in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have been severely curtailed by a series of security policy responses to the 2011 Arab uprisings. Cyber crime laws have become more restrictive, the definition for terrorism much more expansive, and the six states have passed a controversial agreement coordinating internal security. Although the impact of the new measures has varied from one country to another, it has been most pronounced in Kuwait, which traditionally has had the most vocal and participatory political landscape. Impacts Intra-GCC security coordination will intensify as external threats such as the Islamic State group and the civil conflict in Yemen grow. Silencing of dissent reduces credibility of GCC representative bodies already afflicted by opposition boycott and low turnout. Gulf officials will emphasise the importance of political stability in justifying the political crackdown to Western counterparts. Such co-ordination will facilitate cross-border arrests, narrowing the space for political opposition across the Gulf. Intensification of patronage politics (through increased public sector employment) will undermine long-term employment goals for nationals.