Abstract
Predicted to run out of petroleum by 2050, Oman will suffer from the recent 40% dive in crude oil prices. The consequent spending cuts and business closures will hurt the already beleaguered Omani working class - 80% of whom are migrants - and could incite the kinds of protests last seen during the Arab Spring. In February 2011, activists took to the street and targeted aspects of their society they deemed corrupt and unjust. Some picketed a shopping mall for two days, others tried to block the export of oil products at Sohar port. With one hand the Sultan waved in some limited political reforms, but with the other fist he smashed down on critics of the regime, six of whom were jailed for writing "provocative" blogs.
Now the elderly and childless Sultan is in ill health and there is speculation about who will succeed him. Could this be the opportunity for democratisation that Omanis have been waiting for?
Now the elderly and childless Sultan is in ill health and there is speculation about who will succeed him. Could this be the opportunity for democratisation that Omanis have been waiting for?
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Type | Synoptic commentary |
| Media of output | Magazine |
| Publisher | New Internationalist |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 8 Jan 2015 |
Keywords
- Oman
- Middle East
- democracy
- Arab Spring
- oil and gas industry
- political economy
- political participation
