The Political Thought of the Late HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founder of the United Arab Emirates
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Durham E-Theses The Political Thought of the Late H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founder of the United Arab Emirates (1966 - 2004) ALHOSANI, HAMAD ALI How to cite: ALHOSANI, HAMAD ALI (2012) The Political Thought of the Late H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founder of the United Arab Emirates (1966 - 2004), Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3448/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 The Political Thought of the Late H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founder of the United Arab Emirates (1966 – 2004) By Hamad Ali Hasan Alhosani Submitted to School of Government & International Affairs of Durham University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of PhD in Political Science July, 2011 Abstract This thesis highlights the political thought of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a man who made decisive contributions to the history of the twentieth century, and the various reflections of this political thought on the UAE, its people and the international community at large. In this regard, it explores and analyzes a multifaceted political thought that took its form in political practice in the establishment of the Federation, the management of crises and in the building of a prosperous enduring nation. Evaluating the factors that influenced the formation of the doctrinal matrix of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, this thesis traces the background from within which Sheikh Zayed’s leadership skills evolved and developed. From his early years onwards, Sheikh Zayed made a firm commitment to undertake the considerable task of building a fully fledged state out of a divided tribal background, improve the lives of citizens, and carve a place for the UAE in the international arena. This research project illustrates the implications and dimensions of Sheikh Zayed's political thinking process exemplified in his discursive statements and actions. It documents and analyzes the career achievements of Sheikh Zayed, a statesman acknowledged by contemporary and future generations to have had significant impact on the political direction and overall development of the UAE. This impact also demonstrates the potential of his contribution to the field of political thought. One of this study’s primary conclusions is that the accomplishments of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan during his rule have resulted primarily from his development of an integrated doctrine of governance that reflected his humanistic outlook. In this regard, at both the domestic and international levels, Sheikh Zayed’s political decisions and acts were undertaken with reference to this outlook. 1 Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................. 1 Table of Contents .................................................................................................................. 2 Statement of Copyright ......................................................................................................... 6 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................. 7 Dedication ............................................................................................................................. 8 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 9 Literature Review ......................................................................................................12 Relevance of the Study .............................................................................................17 Objectives of the Study .............................................................................................17 Assumptions of the Study .........................................................................................18 Study Limitation .......................................................................................................19 Methodology .............................................................................................................20 Structure of Thesis ....................................................................................................22 Chapter One: The Formation of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s Political Thought ............................................................................................................................... 23 Section One: Local Environment Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 23 Geography ............................................................................................................................ 24 History .................................................................................................................................. 26 Early Style of Life ................................................................................................................ 28 The Tribe .............................................................................................................................. 31 The Al Nahyan Family ......................................................................................................... 35 Sheikh Zayed’s Childhood and Early Days ........................................................................... 36 Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern Region ...................................................................... 40 Ruling Abu Dhabi ................................................................................................................ 46 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 52 Section Two: Regional Environment Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 53 The Arab-Israeli Conflict ..................................................................................................... 54 The Oil Crisis ....................................................................................................................... 56 The First Gulf War (Iran-Iraq) ............................................................................................. 57 The Second Gulf War (Iraq-Kuwait) ..................................................................................... 58 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 59 Section Three: International Environment Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 61 World Wars I and II .............................................................................................................. 61 The Cold War ....................................................................................................................... 63 The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan ...................................................................................... 63 9/11 ....................................................................................................................................... 64 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 65 2 Chapter Two: H.H Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s Political Thought and Philosophy of Governance ................................................................................................. 69 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 69 Section One: Domestic and Foreign Policy Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 71 Zayed’s Vision of Domestic Policy ...................................................................................... 72 The Philosophy of Development: Building the People ........................................................ 73 Developing The Economy .................................................................................................... 77 Agriculture: Zayed's Winning Bet ......................................................................................... 79 Sheikh Zayed's Vision of Industrial Development ................................................................ 82 An Open Door Policy as the Key to Economic Development .............................................. 84 Democratic Governance