Kuwait at a Crossroads

Recent events in Kuwait have brought about many issues that can be discussed by interested observers, academics, and stakeholders. The storming of the National Assembly in November 2011, the largest protests in the small country's history in October 2012, and the opposition boycott of the June 2012 election are just some of the most pertinent precedents set since 2010. For Kuwaitis, as well as other Arabs, the politics of their country have changed significantly since the Arab Awakening.

While a small but dedicated group of activists, journalists, and academics have written excellent pieces on the subject (Mona Kareem, Kristan Diwan and Kristian Coates-Ulrichsen to name a few) there are varying opinions on what has been going on.

Some view political unrest as purely a conflict based on identity groups, whether it be sectarian, ideological, or tribal. Others see it as a litmus test for democracy in the region, as Kuwaitis argue over what political institutions benefit economic development. Obviously many of these issues work in kind and have interrelated causes and concerns that need to be addressed. Yet these causes need to be expanded on further.

What is propelling the protests and political deadlocks in Kuwaiti politics since 2010 and under what conditions should we interpret these events? 

Under what conditions can stakeholders come together to discuss solutions to the parliamentary deadlock and  human rights issues relating to protests? 

In this forum I suggest that we discuss both the macro and micro level accounts of these issues; break down the categories that are talked about in the larger context and discuss each in turn. Then, we can look over the larger context and come together to discuss the implications for Kuwait.