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Kuwait

Country in southwest Asia, bounded north and northwest by Iraq, east by the Gulf, and south and southwest by Saudi Arabia.

Government

Under its 1962 constitution, Kuwait has a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, headed by an emir from the al-Sabah dynasty. The constitution vests executive power in the hands of the emir, who governs through an appointed prime minister and council of ministers. There is a single-chamber national assembly of 50 members elected by suffrage (restricted to Kuwaiti citizens) for a four-year term and up to 15 members appointed by the prime minister. The national assembly has powers to initiate legislation and question ministers, but the emir has the final word on policies. Women did not have the vote until 2005. Political parties are not permitted, but political blocs exist within parliament.

History

The region was part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire from the 16th century; the ruling al-Sabah family founded the sheikdom of Kuwait in 1756. The ruler made a treaty with Britain in 1899, enabling it to become a self-governing protectorate until it achieved full independence in 1961.

Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah took the title of emir in 1961 when he assumed full executive powers. He died in 1965 and was succeeded by his brother, Sheikh Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah. He, in turn, died in 1977 and was succeeded by Crown Prince Jabir, who appointed Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah as his heir apparent. In 1986 Sheikh Jabir suspended the national assembly after it had criticized his government's policies. In 1990 pro-democracy demonstrations were dispersed by the police.

Discovery of oil

Kuwait's economy was built initially on pearl fishing, which collapsed in the 1930s. But oil was discovered in 1938, and its large-scale exploitation began after 1945, transforming Kuwait City from a small fishing port into a thriving commercial centre. The oil revenues have enabled ambitious public works and education programmes to be undertaken. Kuwait has used its considerable wealth not only to improve its infrastructure and social services but also to attempt to secure its borders, making, for example, substantial donations to Iraq, which in the past had made territorial claims on it. It has been a strong supporter of the Arab cause generally.

Iran-Iraq War

During the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, Kuwait was the target of destabilization efforts by the revolutionary Iranian government. Some Shi'ites conducted a terrorist bombing campaign as part of an effort to incite the Shiite minority in Kuwait; 17 were arrested 1983 and their freedom was the demand in several hijacking incidents that followed. In 1987 Kuwait sought US protection for its tankers in the wake of attacks on Gulf shipping. Several Kuwaiti tankers were reflagged, and the US Navy conducted convoys through the Gulf. Iranian missiles also struck Kuwaiti installations, provoking fears of an expansion of the conflict.

Gulf War

On 2 August 1990 Iraqi president Saddam Hussein reactivated the long-standing territorial dispute and invaded and occupied the country. The emir and most of his family escaped to Saudi Arabia. With more assets outside than in Kuwait, the government in exile was able to provide virtually unlimited financial support to Kuwaitis who had fled and to countries willing to help it regain its territory. On 28 February 1991, US-led coalition forces liberated Kuwait.

About 600 oil wells were sabotaged by the invading Iraqis. Smoke from burning oil created a pall over the whole country, and it was not until November 1991 that Kuwait was able to extinguish all the fires. Kuwait subsequently spent over $5 billion repairing damaged oil infrastructure. Palestinian guest workers who had remained in Kuwait were subjected to reprisals by returning Kuwaitis for alleged collaboration with the Iraqis, and of 350,000 Palestinians in Kuwait before the invasion, only 80,000 remained in 1992.

Limited democracy restored

The first parliamentary elections since 1986 were held in October 1992, with opposition candidates winning a majority of the seats in Kuwait's national assembly. Islamic candidates made significant gains, filling 19 of the opposition seats. However, less than 14% of the population was eligible to vote, with the franchise restricted to Kuwaiti men over 21, and Kuwait remained basically an absolutist state.

Iraqi border incursions halted

In January 1993 incursions by Iraq into Kuwait were halted after a series of US-led air strikes against Iraqi missile and radar sites. Iraqi troops massed near the border in October 1994, arousing fears of another invasion, but prompt action by the US-led international community removed the threat and secured a formal recognition of Kuwait by the Iraqi government.

2003 parliamentary election

In the elections of July 2003, Islamist candidates did well, with liberals suffering significant losses. Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah was appointed prime minister, the first time since independence that the title was not given to the heir to the throne.

Women's right to vote

In May 2005, the parliament passed a law allowing women to vote and stand for parliamentary seats. The municipal elections of April 2006 saw women voting for the first time.

New emir

In January 2006, the emir Sheikh Jaber died. Although he was initially succeeded by the crown prince, Sheikh Saad, concerns about his health led to the national assembly voting to replace him with Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah after only a few days. In February, Sheikh Sabah appointed his nephew Sheikh Nasser Muhammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah as prime minister.

Desert Storm, Operation Gulf War

Iraq Kuwait (city)

Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries Rumeila

Sabah, Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir al- Sabah, Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Salim al-