Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah

Sheikh Mubarak was the founder of the modern state of Kuwait. But the man who actually led Kuwait to modernity was his son Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah, one of the most significant figures of Kuwait from the 1940s to Kuwaiti independence in 1961. Largely responsible for the creation of the Kuwaiti defence forces, Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah made a point of prioritising what he saw to be Kuwait's national interests in the face of British, American and Iranian pressures during a crucial period of change. He developed carefully crafted, cautious relations with foreign oil companies and secured Kuwait's economic standing through his driven and single-minded policies. The author here presents this part-biography, part-history of modern Kuwait, with fresh new research and insights.From America's drive to build stronger connections in the region in the 1950s, when both the Cold War and Arab nationalisms were in full play, to sensitive diplomatic issues such as water, border disputes and difficult interactions with Iraq, especially following the 1958 revolution of Abd al-Karim Qasim, the author examines Kuwait's relations with its neighbours and the West, and the role played by this pivotal figure in the country's history and development. This book makes a significant contribution to understanding the complex politics of modern Kuwait and the recent history of the Gulf States.

Dr. Souad M. Al-Sabah graduated from the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University (1973) and holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Surrey (1982). She has published several books of poetry and has established literary prizes to encourage cultural and scientific work in the Arab world. In addition to her literary contributions, she has been an important advocate for human rights and is a founding member of the Arab Organization for Human Rights, the Kuwait Human Rights Society, the Arab Council for Children and Development, and a former member of the Executive Committee of the Arab Thought Forum. Dr Souad Al-Sabah has been awarded the Kuwaiti Award of Merit in Literature and Arts; the Lebanese Golden Medal of Honour; The Arab World Institute's Shield of Honour and most recently, South Korea's Manhae Award and the Tunisian Republic Medal (2012). In 2007, she was presented with a CBE from H.R.M. Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of her efforts to strengthen UK-Kuwaiti relations. Her books in English include Development Planning in an Oil Economy and the Role of Women (1983) and Kuwait: Anatomy of a Crisis Economy.

Chapter ONE
The Formation of Abdullah Mubarak
CHAPTER TWO
BUILDING KUWAIT'S MODERN INSTITUTIONS
CHAPTER THREE
THE INSTITUTIONS OF CIVIL SOCIETY
CHAPTER FOUR
Abdullah Mubarak & Kuwait's National Interest
CHAPTER FIVE
Kuwait and Iraq
Chapter SIX
Abdullah Mubarak retires from political life
Chapter SEVEN
Epilogue: Resignation and After