Michael Herb is Assistant Professor in the Political Science department at Georgia State University.

"One of the most insightful and important contributions of the book lies in its well-articulated critique of the (simplistic) 'rentier state' theory, which attributes the resilience of Gulf regimes to their oil wealth and consequent ability to buy off the opposition. Such a critique is long overdue. The author's arguments and evidence to challenge the rentier theory should by themselves ensure that this book will receive much attention."— Guilain Denoeux, Colby College"…provocative and insightful …" — Middle East Policy"…a well-written, concise analysis of Middle Eastern monarchies … deserves serious attention from scholars and policy makers interested in the Middle East or the stability of authoritarian states more generally." — Political Science Quarterly

• Figures, Tables, and Charts Acknowledgments A Note on Titles, Names, and Conventions 1. Introduction Explanations for RevolutionDynastic MonarchyRentier IncomeThe Educated (or New) Middle ClassPolitical Participation and RevolutionThe Scope of the Study, Theoretic Approach, and the Cases Examined 2. The Emergence of Dynastic Monarchy and the Causes of Its Persistence The Rise of the Arabian DynastiesNorms within the Ruling FamiliesMarriage and Dynastic MonarchismConsultation and the Mediation of Dynastic RuleThe Resolution of Disputes within the DynastiesConclusion 3. Arabian Society and the Emergence of the Petro-State Ascriptive Status in ArabiaElite ClansThe MerchantsThe Rise of the Educated Middle ClassThe Relative Decline of the BedouinForeignersConclusion 4. The Dynasties: The Al Sabah and the Al Saud The Al SabahThe Al Saud 5. The Dynasties: The Al Thani, Al Khalifa, Al Nahayan, Al Maktum, and Al Said The Al Thani of QatarThe Al Khalifa of BahrainA Note on the EmiratesThe Al Nahayan of Abu DhabiThe Al Maktum of DubaiThe Al Said of OmanVariations in the Capture of the Petro-States by the Dynasties 6. Strategies of Regime and Opposition in the Dynastic Monarchies KuwaitSaudi ArabiaBahrainQatarThe EmiratesOmanConclusion 7. Libya and Afghanistan LibyaAfghanistanConclusion 8. Five Nondynastic Monarchies EgyptIraqIranMoroccoJordanConclusion 9. Dynastic Monarchism and the Persistence of Hereditary Rule Dynastic MonarchyOther ExplanationsEducationRentierism, Revolution, and ResilienceOppositionThe Composition of the MilitaryTribe and Kin as Inclusionary Political InstitutionsForeign PowersParliamentsStatecraftThe Lessons of the Dynastic Monarchies 10. The Theory of the Rentier State and Constitutional Monarchy in the Middle East The Theory of the Rentier StateWhen Parliamentary Liberalizations SucceedThe Flexibility of Monarchical Institutions in Accommodating Democratic CompromisesThe Absolutisms and Western PolicyMonarchy and Political Development Notes Bibliography Index

Michael Herb is Assistant Professor in the Political Science department at Georgia State University.

"One of the most insightful and important contributions of the book lies in its well-articulated critique of the (simplistic) 'rentier state' theory, which attributes the resilience of Gulf regimes to their oil wealth and consequent ability to buy off the opposition. Such a critique is long overdue. The author's arguments and evidence to challenge the rentier theory should by themselves ensure that this book will receive much attention."— Guilain Denoeux, Colby College"…provocative and insightful …" — Middle East Policy"…a well-written, concise analysis of Middle Eastern monarchies … deserves serious attention from scholars and policy makers interested in the Middle East or the stability of authoritarian states more generally." — Political Science Quarterly

• Figures, Tables, and Charts Acknowledgments A Note on Titles, Names, and Conventions 1. Introduction Explanations for RevolutionDynastic MonarchyRentier IncomeThe Educated (or New) Middle ClassPolitical Participation and RevolutionThe Scope of the Study, Theoretic Approach, and the Cases Examined 2. The Emergence of Dynastic Monarchy and the Causes of Its Persistence The Rise of the Arabian DynastiesNorms within the Ruling FamiliesMarriage and Dynastic MonarchismConsultation and the Mediation of Dynastic RuleThe Resolution of Disputes within the DynastiesConclusion 3. Arabian Society and the Emergence of the Petro-State Ascriptive Status in ArabiaElite ClansThe MerchantsThe Rise of the Educated Middle ClassThe Relative Decline of the BedouinForeignersConclusion 4. The Dynasties: The Al Sabah and the Al Saud The Al SabahThe Al Saud 5. The Dynasties: The Al Thani, Al Khalifa, Al Nahayan, Al Maktum, and Al Said The Al Thani of QatarThe Al Khalifa of BahrainA Note on the EmiratesThe Al Nahayan of Abu DhabiThe Al Maktum of DubaiThe Al Said of OmanVariations in the Capture of the Petro-States by the Dynasties 6. Strategies of Regime and Opposition in the Dynastic Monarchies KuwaitSaudi ArabiaBahrainQatarThe EmiratesOmanConclusion 7. Libya and Afghanistan LibyaAfghanistanConclusion 8. Five Nondynastic Monarchies EgyptIraqIranMoroccoJordanConclusion 9. Dynastic Monarchism and the Persistence of Hereditary Rule Dynastic MonarchyOther ExplanationsEducationRentierism, Revolution, and ResilienceOppositionThe Composition of the MilitaryTribe and Kin as Inclusionary Political InstitutionsForeign PowersParliamentsStatecraftThe Lessons of the Dynastic Monarchies 10. The Theory of the Rentier State and Constitutional Monarchy in the Middle East The Theory of the Rentier StateWhen Parliamentary Liberalizations SucceedThe Flexibility of Monarchical Institutions in Accommodating Democratic CompromisesThe Absolutisms and Western PolicyMonarchy and Political Development Notes Bibliography Index