Public Administration // Kuwait
Introduction
This paper aims to discuss about the State of Kuwait. This includes the historical developments on how it developed into a successful state in the Gulf region. Exploring the political nature of Kuwait’s political stature is also included in the study, explaining several issues affecting the country’s laws and regulations. Going through with the discussion, Kuwait is an independent state in the Gulf region, which is part of the Middle Eastern bloc of the Arab region. Kuwait is technically situated in the Southwestern region of the Asian continent. The country shares borders with Saudi Arabia to the Southwest, Iraq to the northeast, and the Persian Gulf to the East. The country gained its full independence after it ended treaties with the United Kingdom as its former colony in 1961. The National capital city of the country is Kuwaity City and has a population of 4.3 million as of 2016 census.
History: As early as 6500 BCE (Before the Christ Era), Kuwait serves as one of the main ports between the Neolithic Eastern Arabian communities and the people from Mesopotamia as an ancient economic hub. Kuwait serves as a main port towards other gulf areas in the Mesopotamian region and had larger landmass due to a cooler world temperature. During the Roman Empire rule, the port in Kuwait remained as one of the most important route for sea farers as it hosts trade and main maritime transport areas. Kuwait became a province of Sassanid Empire known as Meshan. Portugal claimed Kuwait in 1521 until it transformed into a port hub until the 19th century. Iraqi merchants settled in Kuwait during the siege in Persia in 1779. Kuwait’s golden era started after World War II when petroleum reserves were found under the British rule. After it gained its independence, Kuwait became the most developed state in the Gulf region.
Politics of Kuwait
The political stature Kuwait is identified as a constitutional emirate that applies a semi-democratic system. The head of state of the country is Emir, which was formed in 1752. Kuwait has a hybrid political system that is segregated between the appointed government agencies and its members and the elected parliament. Kuwait has a democratic political system with an interactive civil society with a robust public sphere. The constitution of Kuwait guarantees promulgation of civil rights and liberties, making it one of the most liberalized constitutions than any other countries in Kuwait. The national assembly of Kuwait is composed of 50 members that are chosen by the public that held its elections in every four years. The constitutional image of Kuwait is regarded as one of the most liberalized in the Gulf although there are restrictions with the participation of females in the government.
As for the political branches applied in Kuwait, the Executive power is applied by the Emir. The Emir occupies the highest position of the government as comparable to kings and queens of other’s monarchs and the president of other states. Emir has the power to appoint the prime minister. The legislative division is represented by the National Assembly, which is the only branch that undergoes an electoral period that lasts for at least four years. Winning legislative members are responsible for creating, enacting, and removing existing laws. As for the judiciary branch, the Constitutional Court is responsible for implementing the law. This includes mediating existing legal issues that seeks to deliberate all legal and ethical cases affecting a certain provision that impacts the general interest of the public. The judiciary is represented by the judges and magistrates who are responsible for deciding a certain legal case within the political and legal affairs of Kuwait according to Ulrichsen (2014).
Economy: The State of Kuwait practices a market-based economy that fuels export and import with its trading partners such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, EU, US, and Asia-Pacific. The main sources of its economic integrity are due to its vast majority of natural resources responsible for the spurt of its economic integrity. Approximately 87% of its economic value is supplied by its natural resources such as oil and natural gas. The remaining more than 10% comes from industry, which is gradually booming to the existing funds of the government that is capable of purchasing raw materials for constructing numerous infrastructures. Kuwait’s economic boom is associated with the country’s export of oil produces from several countries that do not have their own natural supply of petroleum products. Kuwait has a strong investment authority such as the Kuwait Investment Authority as the country’s sovereign wealth fund that specializes in foreign related investments. It provides direct investments in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and in the United States according to Etheridge (2014).
The remaining 10% of the country’s economy relies with its financial institution investments. Since Kuwait is generating a robust income from petroleum exports, much of its income is now being invested in financial institutions. Kuwait installed numerous financial firms all over the country to help companies save their revenues. Government agencies built their own financial institutions to have a sustainable program that caters the needs of every service. The growing number of financial institution increased both local and foreign reserves of the country that increased the value of their gross domestic products per nominal and purchasing power parity. Finances invested in transportation systems by building numerous roads, bridges, and tall structures. Health care infrastructure is also gradually improving, allowing medical tourism to boom in the country. Financial firms are also boosting education by building and rehabilitating schools and universities to improve the growing demand for education and research in Kuwait.
Local and International relationship
As for the local relationship of Kuwait, the country is known as a Muslim nation. Most of its constituents are called Muslims due to their religious association with the Islamic religion. The political system of Kuwait is greatly influenced by the practice of their religious rites and values. Most local affairs in Kuwait have a strong affiliation with their religious culture. One of which is their routine worshipping of Allah that is done for at least more than 4 times each day. Religion plays an important role to the culture and values of each Kuwaiti individual and group because they are under a region where Islam is a predominant religion. Businesses and infrastructures that are established in Kuwait are always associated with the Shariah custom, which is a requirement for businesses and organizations operating across the lands of Kuwait.
As for the international relationship of Kuwait, the role of cultural diversity is practiced with other international organizations. Acceptance and being diverse with foreign countries are key main options to share different interests and values that can be shared between Kuwait and other cultures around the world. However, Kuwait still imposes Shariah requirements for all businesses who want to install their new franchise within the jurisdiction of Kuwaiti territory. Kuwait opens its doors to international workers who want to work and live in Kuwait, which is one of the most important international relations to establish closer diplomatic relationships with other countries. Petroleum exports are also a key international tool that connects economic relationship between Kuwait and foreign countries to further boost trade and development. To further bolster its international relationship with other countries and organizations, Kuwait is also a member of international organizations such as the United Nations, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, and Arab League of Nations according to Tsourapas (2016).
Security: Kuwait has been beefing up its military facilities due to the threat of terrorism. The country is bordered by Iraq, which is one of the countries banned by the United States due to the threat of ISIS, Al Aqeda and other emerging terrorist networks operating in the country. Kuwait installed a heavy military border with Iraq to prevent spillage of terrorist groups who are aiming to extend violence, coercion, and intimidation to the country. Kuwait has been gradually increasing its funding to increase military armistice, tanks, navy fighting sea crafts, and aircrafts to improve the defense of the country. Since terrorism is one of the most serious security threats in the country, Kuwait is also funding its police department to help its defense force from being affected by the threat of terrorism across the country.
Implication
It has been learned that Kuwait is one of the most promising countries in the Persian Gulf, along with Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Iran. This is because Kuwait is situated in an area that is very rich in natural resources. Due to the vast remaining petroleum reserves sitting beneath its territory, Kuwait still remains as one of the richest countries in the Middle East due to its high percentage of petroleum exports that sustains the energy needs of foreign countries around the world. However, the only problem faced by Kuwait is the terrorist threats because the country shares borders with Iraq, which is heavily infested with terrorist networks. But with the countries, strong export capability and a booming economy, the country is still capable of defending itself while it continues to bolster its infrastructure, transportation, economic stability, and defense forces. This is while the country is still capable of complimenting its robust economic growth over the years according to Al-Kharafi (2014).
References
Al-Kharafi, Naeimah (2014). “Encouraging social entrepreneurship in Kuwait – Special report”. Kuwait Times.
Etheridge, Jamie (2014). “What’s behind the growth of Kuwait’s informal economy”. Kuwait Times.
Tsourapas, Gerasimos (2016). “Nasser’s Educators and Agitators across al-Watan al-‘Arabi: Tracing the Foreign Policy Importance of Egyptian Regional Migration, 1952–1967”. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies. 43 (3): 324–341.
Ulrichsen, Kristian Coates (2014). “Politics and Opposition in Kuwait: Continuity and Change”. Journal of Arabian Studies: Arabia, the Gulf, and the Red Sea. 4 (2): 214–230.
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