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AngloArabia: Why Gulf Wealth Matters to Britain
UK ties with Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf monarchies are under the spotlight as never before. Huge controversy surrounds Britain’s alliances with these deeply repressive regimes, and the UK’s key supporting role in the disastrous Saudi-led intervention in Yemen has lent added urgency to the debate. What lies behind the British government’s decision to place politics before principles in the Gulf? Why have Anglo-Arabian relations grown even closer in recent years, despite ongoing, egregious human rights violations?
In this ground-breaking analysis, David Wearing argues that the Gulf Arab monarchies constitute the UK’s most important and lucrative alliances in the global south. They are central both to the British government’s ambitions to retain its status in the world system, and to its post-Brexit economic strategy. Exploring the complex and intertwined structures of UK-Gulf relations in trade and investment, arms sales and military cooperation, and energy, Wearing shines a light on the shocking lengths to which the British state has gone in order to support these regimes. As these issues continue to make the headlines, this book lifts the lid on ‘AngloArabia’ and what’s at stake for both sides.
In this ground-breaking analysis, David Wearing argues that the Gulf Arab monarchies constitute the UK’s most important and lucrative alliances in the global south. They are central both to the British government’s ambitions to retain its status in the world system, and to its post-Brexit economic strategy. Exploring the complex and intertwined structures of UK-Gulf relations in trade and investment, arms sales and military cooperation, and energy, Wearing shines a light on the shocking lengths to which the British state has gone in order to support these regimes. As these issues continue to make the headlines, this book lifts the lid on ‘AngloArabia’ and what’s at stake for both sides.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published November 28, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 10, 2021
This is an important book. It explains the perfidy of successive British governments in supplying repressive Middle Eastern monarchies with arms in order to maintain Britain’s position as a global power and cover its economic inadequacies.
Britain supplied arms to Bahrain, which were used to suppress a peaceful call for democracy. Britain supplies (still) arms to Saudi Arabia which are used against Yemeni civilians. Those are but two examples. Middle Eastern powers have excess wealth, petrodollars, which is invested in Britain. Such investment supports the strength of the British currency, which would otherwise fall as a result of its current account deficit.
Things need not be this way, Wearing argues, taxpayers’ money subsidising the arms industry could instead be spent on green, sustainable industries p222). Retaining the status of a global power, post Empire, is a choice, not a necessity (p215).
This is not an easy book to read; it’s the book of Wearing’s PhD thesis. A good tip is to first read the Introduction, then the Conclusion, then each chapter in turn, reading each chapter’s conclusion first and then the detail followed by its conclusion again. There is much history and detail to absorb.
Britain is shamed by its successive governments’ lying to conceal their real intentions. And in this respect, it makes no difference which party is in power...
Essential reading.
Britain supplied arms to Bahrain, which were used to suppress a peaceful call for democracy. Britain supplies (still) arms to Saudi Arabia which are used against Yemeni civilians. Those are but two examples. Middle Eastern powers have excess wealth, petrodollars, which is invested in Britain. Such investment supports the strength of the British currency, which would otherwise fall as a result of its current account deficit.
Things need not be this way, Wearing argues, taxpayers’ money subsidising the arms industry could instead be spent on green, sustainable industries p222). Retaining the status of a global power, post Empire, is a choice, not a necessity (p215).
This is not an easy book to read; it’s the book of Wearing’s PhD thesis. A good tip is to first read the Introduction, then the Conclusion, then each chapter in turn, reading each chapter’s conclusion first and then the detail followed by its conclusion again. There is much history and detail to absorb.
Britain is shamed by its successive governments’ lying to conceal their real intentions. And in this respect, it makes no difference which party is in power...
Essential reading.
July 31, 2022
This explains a lot. AngloArabia is a lot like Niall Ferguson’s Chimerica - an economic fusion between two countries.
Essentially, the Middle East replaced India as the main source of income after the collapse of empire.
The goal of the UK is to ensure that the fossil-based wealth is stored and spent in the UK. This is the key to the financialisation of the country.
The arms trade is important because it stimulates the major industrial part of the economy which helps to maintain the UK military presence globally.
Fascinating read.
Enjoy!
Essentially, the Middle East replaced India as the main source of income after the collapse of empire.
The goal of the UK is to ensure that the fossil-based wealth is stored and spent in the UK. This is the key to the financialisation of the country.
The arms trade is important because it stimulates the major industrial part of the economy which helps to maintain the UK military presence globally.
Fascinating read.
Enjoy!
January 7, 2019
I bought this book at the launch event and I’m so glad I attended! The event was amazing!
The book is brilliant. Wearing begins by giving historical context to help understand the present relationship between the UK and the GCC states. He also has written a chapter on the Yemen crisis which is important and helps understand the war. There’s loads of graphs in every part of the book which allows for visual representation of the point.
The book is brilliant. Wearing begins by giving historical context to help understand the present relationship between the UK and the GCC states. He also has written a chapter on the Yemen crisis which is important and helps understand the war. There’s loads of graphs in every part of the book which allows for visual representation of the point.
February 20, 2019
Excellent.
August 15, 2019
Interesting topic but the style of writing was very academic which made it difficult to really get into.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews