Political Participation in Kuwait: Dīwāniyya, Majlis and Parliament

Abstract

This article examines political participation in Kuwait, focusing on formal and informal mechanisms Evaluating society only in terms of the degree to which it is “democratic” has diverted attention from basic elements in Kuwaiti society and from important changes that it has undergone over time. Like other countries in the Arabian Peninsula, Kuwait grew out of a tribally structured society; therefore tribal characteristics need to be accounted for when examining its society and the institutionalization of its politics. Following a brief explanation of the basic problems of researching political participation, a short historical outline, and definitions of Kuwait's basic administrative mechanisms, a chronological analysis of the first half of the twentieth century is presented, in order to explain the evolution of Kuwait's political system. Exploring the parliamentary period from the 1960s to the present also helps to create a new approach for understanding Kuwait's unique political culture.