Download Ancient Monarchy and Troubled Democracy: Oman`s Political Realities

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Ancient Monarchy and Troubled Democracy: Oman’s
Political Realities
By Peter Banham
March 23, 2014
In 1970 Sultan Qaboos took control of the state
in a coup that saw his father overthrown and
Oman set on a course towards modernisation.
Fig 1. Sultan Qaboos, Leader of Oman (1970-Present)
The Middle East has undergone great upheaval
in recent years; a transformation that has
changed the political makeup of the region. For
many authoritarian regimes the Arab Spring
brought their governments crashing down
around them, but for others the effects were
less destructive. These regimes managed to ride
out the storm, relatively unchanged. Oman was
one of these nations.
In the grand discourse on Middle Eastern politics the focus rarely stays on the Sultanate of Oman.
Observers pass it by, instead looking at the inner turmoil of Yemen, the control of Saudi Arabia or
the glittering towers of the U.A.E. However, focus should be on this country at the end of the
Arabian Peninsula. Here, hemmed in by the Empty Quarter and the Indian Ocean, is one of the least
democratic states in the world. Oman has had a long history of royal rule, however unlike most
global monarchies, it has resisted the intrusions of democracy.
The Sultan’s word is law in Oman. In 1970 Sultan Qaboos took control of the state in a coup that saw
his father overthrown and Oman set on a course towards modernisation. Qaboos’ 1970 vision was a
state in which oil revenues drove development and ended Oman’s political isolation, a characteristic
that had been a hallmark for decades. Qaboos has achieved economic modernisation. The power of
oil has been harnessed effectively and it has been funnelling money into tourism, heavy industry and
critically improving the living standards of its citizens. The Sultan’s success with the economy is
undisputed but the success masks Oman’s political realities.
Sultan Qaboos established his state as an absolute monarchy, but unlike its neighbours; the absolute
monarchies of Qatar and Saudi Arabia , there is no modification or influence from family members.
Qaboos rules alone. For critics of the Omani state Qaboos is an autocrat, a ruler who has justified his
rule through the tradition of monarchy but rules just as dictators have done across the world.
The critics are justified in their assessment of Sultan Qaboos. For the past forty years he has ruled
like the monarchs of Europe in the Middle Ages. He not only rules the country, but dictates foreign
policy, occupies high positions in the military and has final say in all things judicial. His tours around
Oman are reminiscent of the grand tours undertaken by Henry VIII and for any outsiders this is a
modern state with a distinctly medieval feel.
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There is an almost romanticised view of Oman. For tourists, the monarchy is part of the charm, a
nod to the world of Aladdin and One Thousand and One Nights.
But unlike dictatorial regimes around the world the monarchy of Sultan Qaboos receives little
condemnation from world leaders and generates little controversy. Countries like Great Britain and
the USA have invested heavily, both economically and politically, in the continued success and
stability of Qaboos’ regime. In 2009 the USA signed a free-trade agreement that opened up Oman to
the world. Within one document the American’s had established a firm bond with the state. Likewise
the British have continued the influence they established during the height of British imperialism
and in modern Oman it is the military who have been the biggest beneficiaries of British advice and
funding. Both states have, yet again, asserted their policy of prioritising co-operation with states in
the Middle East whose policy aims match up with their own, but like the economic successes of
Oman foreign support masks the political realities.
There are cracks in the Omani state that have
raised questions for this ‘ancient monarchy’.
Throughout the Middle East the Arab Spring had
an impact on governments and, even in rigidly
controlled Oman, there was a groundswell of
political protest that forced the Sultan to grant
economic concessions. The protests, however,
raised a bigger question for Oman; what’s next?
Qaboos has not named a successor and this may
yet see Oman put on a different course.
However, for the moment, a stripped back
Oman is a nation where democracy is an
underused concept. In the deserts of the
Arabian peninsula Sultan Qaboos has set himself
up as an absolute monarch; an heir to the ancient Sultan’s of Arabic folklore. He has used the
heritage of this ancient monarchy to avoid being associated with connotations of autocracy,
dictatorial practices or authoritarian rule. This practice has worked well for the Sultan. Unlike other
authoritarian leaders in the Middle East he has not seen widespread criticism or social uprising to
the scale that overthrew Presidents Mubarak and Morsi in Egypt or Gaddafi in Libya. Instead there is
an almost romanticised view of Oman; a state where ancient Arabic traditions are preserved. For the
tourists that travel to Oman the monarchy is part of the charm; a nod to the world
of Aladdin and One Thousand and One Nights. The same can be said about the governments who
flock here. From Austria to the UK Qaboos has been awarded with the highest honours by foreign
states across the world. His position as a monarch, rather than a dictator, has legitimised his rule in
the eyes of foreign states. This mentality is dangerous. It blinds the world to the democratic failures
of some states.
Fig 2. The romanticised image of Oman often skews the
international perspective on the reality of Oman’s politics.
We must see Oman for what it is; an autocratic regime in which the traditions of its ancient
monarchy are allowed to dominate the principles of democracy. I do not seek to condemn the
concept of monarchy, but I do believe that when we leave monarchy unchecked the result is an
authoritarian regime. Oman may be a mystical desert kingdom in the eyes of many, but the political
realities of this state exposes a nation with many flaws.
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Bibliography & Images
Fig 1. Sultan Qaboos, Wikimedia, 23/03/14
Fig 2. Muscat, Wikimedia, 23/03/14
Journal Articles
Katz, Mark. "Assessing the Political Stability of Oman." Middle East Review of International
Affairs Vol. 8, No. 3, September 2004
Web Articles
Ministry of Information, Sultanate of Oman, Government Overview, Ministry of Information,
http://www.omanet.om/english/government/overview.asp?cat=gov, [Accessed: 28th January]
Dokoupil, Martin, Succession Question Fuels Uncertainty in Oman, Reuters, May 24th, 2012,
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/24/us-oman-succession-idUSBRE84N0K420120524
[Accessed: 25th January, 2014]
Ketchichian, Joseph A., Book Review – Oman: Politics and Society in the Qaboos State, 2009,
http://www.mepc.org/create-content/book-review/oman-politics-and-society-qaboos-state,
[Accessed: 25th January, 2014]
Vaidya, Sunil, “One Dead, Dozen Injured as Oman Protest Turns Ugly”, Gulf News, 27th February,
2011, http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/one-dead-dozen-injured-as-oman-protest-turns-ugly1.768789, [Accessed: 28th January]