Constitutional History and Practice in the Persian Gulf. A Brief Introduction

Year 2024, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 1 - 22, 30.06.2024

Borja W. Gonzalez Fernandez

Abstract

Makale Geçmişi
Geliş: 26/04/2023
Kabul: 17/12/2023
Yayın: 30/06/2024

Anahtar Kelimeler: Constitutional History, Constitution, Law, GCC, Democratization.
.
JEL Kodları: K10, K30.
Widely considered as the quintessential refuge of monolithic and patriarchal authoritarianism and the ultimate abode of absolutist dynasticism, the Persian Gulf region stands out as the world’s less democratic region in most relevant indexes. Paradoxically enough, the region also harbors one of the most consolidated experiments in effective democratization of the wider MENA area: Kuwait, where parliament and the courts have consistently—and successfully—defended their independence vis-à-vis the encroachment of executive authority. This paper, in examining this apparent paradox, will compare the political evolution of three of the region’s states (Bahrain, Kuwait itself, and the United Arab Emirates), ascertaining both the commonalities and the differences that explain their diverging constitutional structures as well as their contrasting political evolution. At the same time, the democratic optimism surrounding the Gulf area at the beginning of the present century, as expressed particularly in Anne-Marie Tétreault’s work, will also be put to the test. In so doing, due attention will be given to the strategic, demographic, and economic factors that have frustrated the attempts at political infitah opened in certain regional states since their independence.

Keywords

Constitutional History, Law, GCC, Democratization

Basra Körfezi’nde Anayasal Tarih ve Uygulama. Kısa Bir Tanıtım

Abstract

Article History
Received: 26/04/2023
Accepted: 17/12/2023
Published: 30/06/2024
Monolitik ve ataerkil otoriterliğin en öne çıkan sığınağı ve mutlakiyetçi hanedanlık yapısının nihai mekânı olarak görülen Basra Körfezi bölgesi, ilgili demokrasi endekslerinin çoğunda dünyanın en az demokratik bölgesi olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Birbiriyle çelişen bir biçimde, bu bölge, aynı zamanda geniş MENA bölgesinde etkin demokratikleşme konusunda en sağlam deneyimlerden birini barındırmaktadır: Parlamento ve mahkemelerin yürütme otoritesinin müdahalelerine karşı bağımsızlıklarını sürekli ve başarılı bir şekilde savundukları Kuveyt. Bu makale, bu bariz çelişkiyi incelerken, bu bölgenin en önde gelen üç devletinin (Bahreyn, Kuveyt ve Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri) siyasi evrimini karşılaştıracak ve hem farklı anayasal yapılarını hem de zıt siyasi evrimlerini açıklayan ortak ve farklı unsurları tespit edecektir. Aynı zamanda, özellikle Anne-Marie Tétreault'nun ilgili çalışmasında ifade edildiği üzere, içinde bulunduğumuz yüzyılın ilk yıllarında Körfez bölgesini çevreleyen demokratik iyimserlik de sınamaya tabi tutulacaktır. Bunu yaparken, bağımsızlık sürecinden bu yana bazı bölge devletlerinde başlatılan siyasi infitah girişimlerini boşa çıkaran stratejik, demografik ve ekonomik faktörlere gereken önem verilecektir.

Keywords

Anayasa, Tarihi Anayasa, KIK, Demokratiklesme

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