In the conventional literature on human-environment relations in the Middle East, the environment is often treated as a dominant variable in explaining adverse social, economic, and political...Show moreIn the conventional literature on human-environment relations in the Middle East, the environment is often treated as a dominant variable in explaining adverse social, economic, and political realities. This deterministic way of interpreting the relationship between the Middle Eastern environment and its inhabitants has been subject to critique from a growing body of literature on political ecology. Although some political ecology research has challenged environmental deterministic assumptions by exploring the role of natural resources in environmental challenges in the Gulf, previous works have not yet provided a comprehensive analysis of various environmental dimensions in a single case study context. This thesis aims to fill this gap in the literature by asking: What is the role of natural resources in engaging with environmental challenges in relation to water, food, and energy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)? This thesis examines the political-ecological metabolisms of three strategies employed to address environmental challenges in relation to water, energy, and food in the UAE: desalination, solar energy, and land grabs. With an explicit focus on power, this study reveals that humans and nature are intertwined, challenging the conventional academic wisdom.Show less
Slavery in the Late Islamic Gulf was commonplace and seen as a staple within Arabian societies, however this thesis will attempt to evaluate its visibility in the archaeological record. Slaves...Show moreSlavery in the Late Islamic Gulf was commonplace and seen as a staple within Arabian societies, however this thesis will attempt to evaluate its visibility in the archaeological record. Slaves throughout the Gulf and Arabia were used as domestics in the household and as markers of status, however their role within society was transformed during the Late Islamic period. The major influx and demand for slave labour in the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries can mainly be attributed to the globalisation of Arabia and the Gulf region, through the exportation of pearls and dates during this period with slave labour being used to staff these industries and produce the commodities, at great profit for the merchants involved.The main question to be addressed, aside from determining the visibility of slaves archaeologically is determining if there is evidence for aspects of African identity within the Gulf, as the vast majority of slaves brought to the region were of African descent. This thesis will present the archaeological evidence for the existence of slaves in the way of architecture and the visibility of slavery within living quarters, using structures in Doha, Qatar as a specific example. Historical records also play a large part in demonstrating slaves within society at this time, including first-hand manumission records and censuses taken at the peak of the slave trade. Examples of African influence in the material culture of the region can also be used to show their influence on society at the time and the permeations of the culture through population onto the archaeological record, such as music and dance. This thesis will also explore new avenues of evidence to show the presence of Africans, using genetic analysis to demonstrate how ancestry can be traced back in the modern day population for the Gulf to account for an African presence in particular and its origins form the slave trade to the region. There are many limitations to this research however; unlike the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the investigation of slavery and its visibility in the Americas, which has political and social motivations for research, the Gulf does not have the same view and desire to investigate the concept of slavery, in my opinion contributing to its lack of research so far. Naturally, a further limiting factor for their visibility, is the position which slaves had in the region, one of no social standing or individualism. This thesis will discuss why there has been such a lack of research into the visibility of slavery in the Late Islamic Gulf, considering the region benefited so dramatically from it, recommending that greater efforts be dedicated to investigating the two main themes for which material culture has been a primary source of data for archaeological research into slavery: architecture and the everyday life of slaves, as well as expressions of cultural identity. Both of these areas provide huge stumbling blocks for research due to the redevelopment of the Gulf region later in history and the oppression of slaves, due to their role in society.Show less
Due to their geographic proximity, the Gulf and the Horn of Africa share a long history of economic, political and cultural ties. Recent years, however, have seen an unprecedented increase in the...Show moreDue to their geographic proximity, the Gulf and the Horn of Africa share a long history of economic, political and cultural ties. Recent years, however, have seen an unprecedented increase in the presence of Gulf actors in the Horn, accelerated by the Gulf-internal rivalry between Qatar on one side and the remaining members of the Gulf Cooperation Council on the other. With the help of the theoretical framework of Regional Security Complexes and the Spillover Effect, as well as process tracing methods, two country case studies examine how Gulf engagement, in particular the rivalry between Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, further destabilizes an already fragile region: In Somalia, the tensions between core and periphery have been exacerbated as a result of Qatar backing the central government in Mogadishu and the UAE supporting the federal states. In Sudan, the complicated transition process is prolonged as a result of Gulf powers pursuing opposing agendas in the post-Bashir political environment.Show less
Economic diversification is understood as an important factor in stabilizing an economy based on the export of natural resources. As one of the richest countries per capita in the world, Qatar has...Show moreEconomic diversification is understood as an important factor in stabilizing an economy based on the export of natural resources. As one of the richest countries per capita in the world, Qatar has gained most of its wealth from the export of natural gas. At the same time, the reliance on this export might lead to a vulnerable flow of income, with a changing energy market and volatile prices on oil and gas. Economic diversification has therefore become an important policy tool for Qatari leaders to ensure a sustainable future for the economy. However, even though diversification has been seemingly enhanced through economic policies, this thesis argues that there are several structural problems to the diversification process. Making use of the framework from the rentier state theory to explain these underlying structures, the thesis concludes that the structura problems to diversification in Qatar is the reliance on expatriate labour (1), a dominant public sector (2), redistributive politics (3) and the established social contract between state and citizens (4).Show less
Since Al Jazeera was established, it has had an impact on Qatar’s diplomatic relations, in particular since the Arab Spring. The tensions between Qatar and the other Gulf countries, however, came...Show moreSince Al Jazeera was established, it has had an impact on Qatar’s diplomatic relations, in particular since the Arab Spring. The tensions between Qatar and the other Gulf countries, however, came to a peak during the 2014 and the 2017 Gulf crises. Remarkable, is the central role of Al Jazeera in in these diplomatic crises, while the network is independent and only partly funded by the Qatari government. Therefore, this thesis researches the impact of Al Jazeera on Qatar’s foreign relations. Through within-case analysis and process tracing this thesis illustrates how Al Jazeera, since its establishment, has evolved into a global news network that is considered highly controversial among the other Gulf states. By combining these results with the theories of the CNN-effect and the Al Jazeera effect, this thesis has been able to identify possible reasons why Al Jazeera has been a subject in these diplomatic crises. Lastly, this thesis also proposes an addition to the theory of multilevel analysis that allows for more accurate research into global news networks.Show less
Over the past decades, migrant labour from South and South East Asia became more and more essential to the Gulf region’s economic development and migrant numbers continue to grow. This paper...Show moreOver the past decades, migrant labour from South and South East Asia became more and more essential to the Gulf region’s economic development and migrant numbers continue to grow. This paper provides an analysis of the political economy of the Gulf states, which aims at moving away from Gulf exceptionalism and oil centrism and instead, placing the Gulf within the global perspective of neoliberal economic development. With this in mind, the paper attempts to explain the increase in labour migrant numbers from Asia to the GCC countries after 1990, and examines these increases in relation to neoliberal economic developments, which occurred during the 1990s and 2000s.Show less
Water security has become an important issue in arid regions like the Persian Gulf. Water scarcity coupled with a growing population have led the GCC countries to implement new policies and improve...Show moreWater security has become an important issue in arid regions like the Persian Gulf. Water scarcity coupled with a growing population have led the GCC countries to implement new policies and improve their water sector. This paper explores the water situation of these countries in an effort to determine the role of water cooperation in tackling water insecurity. By looking at data, reports and official documents, this research studies water cooperation as a potential solution to water insecurity, as well as the trends of the GCC countries in this regard.Show less
