After the Sheikhs: The Coming Collapse of the Gulf Monarchies by Christopher Davidson Read Free Book Online Page A

doorstep. Although largely unforeseen and at first difficult to understand, I found that most of these events and their associated impacts helped to strengthen my thesis and—more importantly—they strengthened my resolve to finish the manuscript as soon as possible. Although the book was never intended to be a crystal ball it is worth noting that the original, 2009 version forecast the collapse of most of the Gulf monarchies within the next decade. In contrast, this final 2012 version contends that most of these regimes—at least in their present form—will be gone within the next two to five years .
    A very large number of individuals deserve my thanks. Over the past few years they have provided encouragement, fact-checking, fascinating pieces of information, and—on occasion—some necessary criticism. These include academics, human rights and pro-democracy activists, members of several political societies and religious organisations, government employees from all six gulf monarchies and neighbouring states, and ofcourse a small army of concerned citizens and expatriates. I am also very thankful to the following universities for inviting me to give lectures on earlier, prototype versions of this book: the London School of Economics, Oxford, St. Andrews, Yale, Stanford, and Otago. The feedback I received from such well-informed audiences undoubtedly helped me shape my thoughts.
    Above all I thank my indefatigable publisher, Michael Dwyer, and all of his team at C. Hurst & Co.

ACRONYMS
     
     
     
     
ADBIC
Abu Dhabi Basic Industries Corporation
ADEC
Abu Dhabi Executive Council
ADFAD
Abu Dhabi Fund for Arab Development
ADFD
Abu Dhabi Fund for Development
ADFEC
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company
ADIA
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
ADNCC
Abu Dhabi National Consultative Council
ADNOC
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
AQAP
Al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula
Aramco
Arabian American Oil Company
ATP
Association of Tennis Professionals
Bapco
Bahrain Petroleum Company
BCHR
Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
CENTCOM
US Central Command
CEO
chief executive office
CIA
Central Intelligence Agency (of the US)
CNPC
China National Petroleum Corporation
COM
Council of Ministers (of the UAE)
DIC
Dubai International Capital
DIFC
Dubai International Financial Centre
DLF
Dhofar Liberation Front
DPW
Dubai Ports World
EAD
Environmental Agency Abu Dhabi
ECHR
Emirates Centre for Human Rights
EDB
Economic Development Board (of Bahrain)
EMAL
Emirates Aluminium
ENOC
Emirates National Oil Company
EPPCO
Emirates Petroleum Products Company
F1
Formula One
FIFA
Fédération International de Football Association
FNC
Federal National Council (of the UAE)
FTA
free trade agreement
GCC
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
GDP
gross domestic product
HH
his highness
HIV
human immunodeficiency virus
HRH
his royal highness
ICBC
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
ICC
International Criminal Court
ICD
Investment Corporation of Dubai
IDEX
International Defence Exhibition (of Abu Dhabi)
IMF
International Monetary Fund
IPIC
International Petroleum Investment Company (of Abu Dhabi)
IPC
Iraqi Petroleum Company
IRENA
International Renewable Energy Agency
ISP
internet service provider
JAFZ
Jebel Ali Free Zone (of Dubai)
JETRO
Japan External Trade Organisation
JODCO
Japan Oil Development Company
KAUST
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
KCIC
Kuwait-China Investment Company
KFAS
Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences
KFAED
Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development
KIA
Kuwait Investment Authority
KIPCO
Kuwait Projects Company
LSE
London School of Economics and Political Science
NYU
New York University
ODA
official development assistance
OECD
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
OPEC
Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
P&O
Peninsula and Orient Steam Navigation Company
PDRY
People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen
PFLOAP
Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf
PRC
People’s Republic of