Michael Herb proposes a new paradigm for understanding politics in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. He critiques the theory of the rentier state and argues that we must put political institutions—and specifically monarchism—at the center of any explanation of Gulf politics. All in the Family provides a compelling and fresh analysis of the importance of monarchism in the region, and points out the crucial role of the ruling families in creating monarchal regimes. It addresses the issue of democratization in the Middle Eastern monarchies, arguing that the prospects for the gradual emergence of constitutional monarchy are better than is often thought.

Table of Contents:
Figures, Tables, and Charts Acknowledgments A Note on Titles, Names, and Conventions 1. Introduction Explanations for Revolution Dynastic Monarchy Rentier Income The Educated (or New) Middle Class Political Participation and Revolution The Scope of the Study, Theoretic Approach, and the Cases Examined 2. The Emergence of Dynastic Monarchy and the Causes of Its Persistence The Rise of the Arabian Dynasties Norms within the Ruling Families Marriage and Dynastic Monarchism Consultation and the Mediation of Dynastic Rule The Resolution of Disputes within the Dynasties Conclusion 3. Arabian Society and the Emergence of the Petro-State Ascriptive Status in Arabia Elite Clans The Merchants The Rise of the Educated Middle Class The Relative Decline of the Bedouin Foreigners Conclusion 4. The Dynasties: The Al Sabah and the Al Saud The Al Sabah The Al Saud 5. The Dynasties: The Al Thani, Al Khalifa, Al Nahayan, Al Maktum, and Al Said The Al Thani of Qatar The Al Khalifa of Bahrain A Note on the Emirates The Al Nahayan of Abu Dhabi The Al Maktum of Dubai The Al Said of Oman Variations in the Capture of the Petro-States by the Dynasties 6. Strategies of Regime and Opposition in the Dynastic Monarchies Kuwait Saudi Arabia Bahrain Qatar The Emirates Oman Conclusion 7. Libya and Afghanistan Libya Afghanistan Conclusion 8. Five Nondynastic Monarchies Egypt Iraq Iran Morocco Jordan Conclusion 9. Dynastic Monarchism and the Persistence of Hereditary Rule Dynastic Monarchy Other Explanations Education Rentierism, Revolution, and Resilience Opposition The Composition of the Military Tribe and Kin as Inclusionary Political Institutions Foreign Powers Parliaments Statecraft The Lessons of the Dynastic Monarchies 10. The Theory of the Rentier State and Constitutional Monarchy in the Middle East The Theory of the Rentier State When Parliamentary Liberalizations Succeed The Flexibility of Monarchical Institutions in Accommodating Democratic Compromises The Absolutisms and Western Policy Monarchy and Political Development Notes Bibliography Index