The GCC During Arab World Revolution

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201131146 ArefAlhammadi 1

The GCC During The Arab World Revolution

Project Final, 2012

Prepared by Aref AlHammadi

ID: 201131145

Supervised by Ms. Jane Hislop


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Table of Contents

Introduction................................................................................................................................3

Background.................................................................................................................................4

ArabSpring..........................................................................................................................................4

GCCDuringArabSpring..................................................................................................................5

BahrainUprising......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ........5

Omanimajorprotests......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ........6

Minor protests in Kuwait......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ...7

Minor Protests in Saudi Arabia.......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... ..7

UAE Political Activists......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......8

Economic Reasons.....................................................................................................................9

Employment.............................................................................................................................11

Wise leadership.......................................................................................................................13

Conclusion................................................................................................................................15

ReferencesList......................................................................................................................16


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Background

The GCC was founded on 26th of May 1981. The aim of the

collective is to protect and promote all member states in all fields in order to

achieve unity. The GCC consists of six member states: United Arab

Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and

Kuwait. The GCC citizens share their language, traditions, religions, and

common objectives. GCC countries are famous for oil, and their exports are

considered the main income for all the GCC member states. The GCC

member states faced two serious threats: one of them was the first gulf war

between Iraq, which was one of the member states, and Iran, and the second

war was between the two member states Iraq and Kuwait, which was in

1990-1991.

ArabSpring

The Arab Spring was a wave of demonstrations and protests occurring

in Arab countries, which was started in December 2010. The flare of the

demonstration started in Tunisia and reached the GCC member states.


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GCCDuringArabSpring

BahrainUprising

The Bahrain uprising was a series of demonstrations, amounting to a

sustained campaign of civil resistance in Bahrain. The Bahrain uprising

started on the14th of Feb 2011, and the demonstrations and the protests

aimed to end the monarchy of King Hamad Bin Isa. The world considered it

as a sectarian revolution and majority of protesters are Shia and it did not

represent the Bahrainis as one nation and what happened there was not like

what had happened in the other Arab countries such as Egypt and Tunisia

because it was Shiites against Sunnis. Also the protests Shiites were not

peaceful because Shiites attacked Sunnis, and took over their mosques, and

used many kinds of weapons (Qaradawi says Bahrains revolution sectarian,

2011). After that the GCC decided to move against the pointless civil

uprising and use some kind of force to stop the revolutions after all the

kings attempts failed. However the entire world was satisfied and wanted to

stop revolution, but the protesters were angered because they considered it

an invasion and foreign interference (Bahrain: Caught Between Saudi Arabia

and Iran, 2011). Still, the cost of the Arab Spring in Bahrain was

comparatively low mainly because of Bahrain's significant and stable oil

production, which contributes 30 per cent to the GDP. Bahrain was able to


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limit the impact on its fiscal balance, with public revenues actually

increasing. However, public expenditure increased partly due to government

cash transfers of $2,660 to each family in attempts to improve living

standards and compensate for declines in the banking, retail and tourism

sector as well as government failure to diversify the economy. (The Arab

Spring Report: Uprisings came at a hefty price, 2011)

Omanimajorprotests

Omani demonstrations started on the 20th February 2011 and aimed to

increase Omanis salaries and improve living standards and especially

Omanis who work in private sectors. Also the demonstration aimed to

activate the role of consumer protection and monitor the prices. After that

GCC agreed to provide Oman with 10 billion dollar in order to improve the

infrastructure and housing for a period of 10 years. (Omanis protest high

cost of living, corruption, 2011)


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Minor protests in Kuwait

The minor protests in Kuwait were series of on going demonstrations

for government reform in Kuwait. Kuwait protests ended when the Kuwaiti

prime minister resigned in response to the protests. Because of prime

minister resigned, Kuwait considers one of the countries affected by Arab

Spring. Also in order to improve citizens living standards the Emir of

Kuwait gave every Kuwaiti citizen 1,000 K.D (Kd 1,000 To Every Kuwaiti

, 2011)

Minor Protests in Saudi Arabia

The condition in Saudi Arabia was similar to that of Kuwait and

Oman. It consisted of small demonstrations, which aimed to improve

citizens life by increasing salaries, providing jobs for national workforce,

and freeing some Shies political prisons. Women also demonstrated

because they aimed to have the right to drive a car, participate in certain

elections and activate their role in Saudis society. Saudi King Abdullah

ordered 37 billion dollars as social benefits to improve living standards and


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to satisfy protesters demand. (Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah's $37bn benefits

package, 2011)

UAE Political Activists

The United Arab Emirates is one of the rich countries in the GCC

where the citizens have many advantages and the government considers the

best ways to improve citizens living standards by developing an exemplary

infrastructure, education environments and providing scholarships, and

providing health services. During the Arab spring a small number of

political activists insulted President, the Vice-President and the Crown

Prince of Abu Dhabi. (Five UAE bloggers are jailed for insulting leaders,

2011). At that time all UAEs tribes members pledged full loyalty to the

government and leadership of the country and rejected outright any act that

violates the countrys security. They met in different places and collected

members signatures in order to support the governments decision and to

file a lawsuit against the political activists. (Key tribes to reaffirm the

importance of national interest , 2011).


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Economic Reasons

The first reason behind the declining wave of protests is the GCC was

the GCC economy. The reasons that have made the GCC economy an

important element in the decline of the protests in the GCC are the stability

of the economic condition, and the benefits and the role of the GCC Custom

Union and the GCC Common Market. The GCCs economy has been known

for a long time for its stability and consistency and the reason behind that is

the appearance of black gold or oil. The appearance of oil turned the arid

desert into endless cities and activated the economic condition in the GCC.

Oil plays a significant role in the worlds economy and the reason behind

that is due to oil as the main element of energy production whether

electricity or the production of gasoline and diesel used in transportation and

manufacturing. Because the GCC states members are petroleum-exporting

countries, the states members took advantage of the high demand for oil and

benefited from the huge revenues and spent it on the infrastructure, and

countries development. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC, 2011),

mentioned that the GCC countries own about 45% of the global provision of

oil and 20% of the global provision of gas, which by its turn supports the

stability, and continuity of economic growth in the GCC. Owning high


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amounts of oil help the GCC countries in many areas such as development,

employment, improvement of services and so on.

The GCC governments aimed to meet certain objectives and one of

these objectives is facilitating trade movement within member states. The

GCC Customs Union plays a significant role in facilitating free movement of

goods between member states and overcoming the obstacle that impedes the

GCC flow of goods, and unification of customs tariffs toward international

trading which leads to encouraging the investors and creating exemplary

trading environment (GCC, 2010). Moreover, the high number of

investments leads to a decrease in the goods prices and increases the

productivity.

As all the GCC members share the same traditions, religions, and

language, the GCC government sought to support all members citizens in

any place within the member states. To achieve the GCC governments

vision the GCC Common Market has been initiated. The GCC Common

market strongly aimed to achieve realization of fully equally treatment in all

fields within the states members such as education, health, and employment

where the GCC nationals have freedom of movement and residence without


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any restrictions, the right of ownership, and inheritance, and the right of

engagement in all professions. (GCC, 2009)

To sum up all these elements contributed significantly to the GCCs

economic stability and which by its turn plays a role in declining the wave of

protests. Government aid shows clearly that the GCC economy is able to

face the future challenges and this is proved in periods of financial crises and

in the Arab spring as well.

Employment

The second reason behind the declining wave of protests in the GCC

was the GCC employment. The reasons that have made the GCC

employment an important element in the decline of the protests in the GCC

are the nationalization of jobs, and considering the private sector as an

employment alternative.

H.H Lt. General Sheik Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, (Prime Minister

Offical Web site, 2011) said that provision of job opportunities to UAE

citizens is a national priority.


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To narrow the widening gap between the demands of accelerating

development and limited national workforce, gulf governments focus on the

nationalization of jobs and intensifying the programs of substituting the

expatriate workers with national workers. These programs aimed to prepare

and qualify the new employees in order to fit the jobs required. Gulf

governments are looking for the optimal use of national human resource, and

provision of a livelihood and stable society. Nationalization of jobs is not

easy as it needs huge investments in resources and it is accounted to the gulf

countries governments, which overcome the obstacle that impedes

employment process (GCC, 2009).

The low salaries and wages given by the private sector compared with

the public sector are one of the most important reasons for the reluctance of

citizens to work in the private sector in gulf countries. Therefore, the GCC

member states encouraged national workforce to work in the private sector

by the provision of social insurance, and limited the in-flow of the migration

labor by increasing the fees of recruitment for new expatriate workers,

limiting certain professions to nationals, and linking the approval of loans

and the award of contracts with the rate of national employment (Human

Resources & Development In The Arabian Gulf, 2010). To sum up all these

elements show how the GCC member states take the livelihood and


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employment of its citizens seriously and this intention helps the protests to

decline in the gulf countries.

Wise leadership

The third reason behind the declining wave of protests in the GCC was

wise leadership. The reason why the wise leadership is the most important

element in the decline of the protests in the GCC is shown in the direct

communication between the citizens and the government. When the

condition of the GCC economy was not enough to end the protests, the

governments presidents showed new lessons in co-operation and leading by

example. The governments accepted the protesters demands and absorbed

the anger of the people by providing billions of dollars as social benefits,

and providing job opportunities. As the GCCs governments operate within

the framework of monarchy, the rulers are responsible for the citizens and

country situation. For instance, after the protest and unstable conditions in

Saudi Arabia, The Saudi Arabian King Abdulla ordered the distribution of

about 37 billion dollars in social benefits, support-housing fund, supporting

scholarship budget and so on,(Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah's $37bn

benefits package, 2011). Although Oman and Bahrain have oil resource


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limitation, rich countries in the GCC rushed to help by making pledges of 10

billion dollars in each country, (GCC pledges 20billion in aid for Oman &

Bahrain, 2011). The King of Bahrain was gave each family 10,000 Bahraini

Dinar. Also the Emir of Kuwait was gave 1000 Kuwaiti dinar for each

citizen. (Kd 1,000 To Every Kuwaiti , 2011). The Sultan of Oman tried to

control the situation, when the protesters focused on lack of job

opportunities in Oman, by ordering 50000 jobs for the unemployed. (Oman

Sultan Qaboos orders jobs for 50000, 2011). To sum up this evidence shows

the proactive response of the government in the Gulf area and shows

synergies between Gulf States.

Counter-Argument and Rebuttal

In order to satisfy markets demand and cover the shortage of the

national workforce, business owners are forced to be depending on

expatriate workforce, hence, the number of expatriate workforce

significantly increase until become the majority of the worker in the GCC

total workforce. Moreover not all the GCC countries have stable economic

condition. However, although this information is true, the GCC supreme

console considered increasing the national workforce as one of the main

concerns, so they encourage the GCC nationals to work in the private sector


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by providing a pension fund, and encouraging business owners by providing

some facilities to bring more expatriate workforce only if they hire and train

the national workforce. Moreover the GCC Common market gives an equal

opportunity for all GCC citizens to work in any GCC states. On the other

hand, an expatriate workforce is one of the most effective ways to develop

the national workforce. In the case that not all the GCC member states are

rich, this information is true, but the poor countries got financial assistances

from the rich countries, and that is what happened during the Arab Spring

where the GCC member states pledged 20 billion dollars to Oman and

Bahrain which shows solidarity of the GCC member states in any

circumstances.

Conclusion

The Golf Cooperation Council member states succeeded in

overcoming the wave of protests and kept its impacts to the minimum level

and the reason behind all of the was the stability of GCC economy,

employment strategies used by governments, and wise leadership which play

significant role during the problems.


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http://www.infiniteunknown.net/2011/02/13/bahrains-king-to-give-1000-dinars-2650-to-each-family-ahead-of-planned-protests/

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GCC.(2009).TheGCC:ProcessandAchievement2009.Riyadh:GCC.GCC.(2011).TheRevisedLong-TermComprehensiveDevelopmentStrategyFortheGCCStates2010-2025,2011.SecretariatOFGCC.irgccommandervowssupportforbahrainrevolution.(2011).Retrievedfrominsideiran:http://www.insideiran.org/media-analysis/irgc-commander-vows-

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Final Reflection COL 240

Prepared by Aref AlHammadi

ID: 201131145

Supervised by Ms. Jane Hislop


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My Assignment is an argument essay about the GCC during Arab spring. I

choose this topic because I feel its not a familiar topic and its a

contemporary issue. The Difficulties I have been found was in collecting

data and information because I spent whole the semester looking for

information, but it helped me to develop my abilities in researching, reading

and writing such an extend piece of writing. In order to write such an

extended writing I used various techniques, first I have made initial research,

then I create list of possible broad topics, after that I choose three topics and

I started the preliminary research for those topics. After that, I choose my

topic and list many questions and collect the keywords for my research.

Then I prepared my arguments, theses, research outlines, and sentences

outline. Finally I started write my first draft and after review it by the

professor I wrote my final copy. This course is significantly improved my

writing skills and my ability to describe the scenarios efficiently. Vocabulary

is one of my main concern and freaked me out, but after reading many

articles, newspaper, and Books I got such of good amount of politics

vocabularies which by it turns will helps me to talk about politics issues

confidently in future. The research is covered many area such as many

websites, books, and newspaper. I can said that my English is hardly

improved especially in this course because the methodologies of the


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professor Jane, which strongly helped me in the writing and also reduced the

work pressure. Ms. Jane methodologies were advanced and she was very

prepared and organized.

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