Democracy Kuwaiti-style
1990 1990-10Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 17 →
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SOCIALIST ACTION OCTOBER 1990 15 inger backed up Kissinger by saying armed intervention was possible.
A flood of petrodollars For the Saudi monarchy, getting control of the oil fields proved far easier than controlling Saudi society after the petro-dollars started rolling in. No other country has gained so much wealth in so short a time.
From 1970 to 1973, national income rose from nearly $5 billion to $11 billion. Then it rocketed to $42 billion by the end of 1975. The money went directly to the Royal Family, who have difficulty distinguishing between their personal finances and the national treasury.
In pre-oil days the treasury was said to be kept in a wooden box stored under the king's bed, and funds were doled out by the monarch personally. Essentially, the petrobillions are handled the same way, although a bank had to be established to replace the Throughout its rule, Kuwait's ruling al-Sabah monarchy has denied political rights to the majority of its population.
Sixty percent of Kuwait's population does not have any citizenship rights. Moreover, all immigrant Palestinians, Lebanese, Iraqis, Iranians, Jordanians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Filipinos, and others are forever prevented from becoming citizens; even the children of foreigners born in Kuwait cannot become citizens. Of Kuwait's 1.9 million population, close to 400,000 are Palestinian and 90,000 are Jordanian.
These "foreign" workers, some of whom are third-generation residents of Kuwait, represent more than 80 percent of Kuwait's work force. Only 10 percent of non-Kuwaiti Arabs are allowed to attend public school. Non-Kuwaitis are denied medical care provided to citizens.
"Foreigners" in Kuwait cannot own property, not even homes. They are also barred from participating in political activity and are not allowed to join trade unions. The monarchy did set up a parliament for which only 6 percent of the population could vote. It was dismissed, however, by al-Sabah two weeks before the Iraqi move into Kuwait.
The country's great oil wealth is controlled by a royal family and a small circle around them. As late as 20 years ago, all Kuwaiti investment was controlled by a mere 18 families.