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Reinventing the Sheikhdom: Clan, Power and Patronage in Mohammed bin Zayed's UAE
Though the Arab Spring has reverberated through the Middle East, largely leaving a path of destruction, the relative calm in the United Arab Emirates has offered a regional roadmap for stability. Domestic changes since 2000 have significantly altered the country's dynamics, firmly cementing power within Abu Dhabi. While Khalifa bin Zayed succeeded his father as emir of Abu Dhabi and UAE president in 2004, the Emirates' evolution has largely been accredited to Abu Dhabi's crown prince, Mohammed bin Zayed. His reign has been characterized by the rise of the security apparatus and a micromanaged approach to governance.
Mohammed bin Zayed's strategy of fortification has focused on pre-empting threats from the UAE's native population, rather than from expatriates or foreign actors. As a result, he has consolidated power, distributing its administration among his tribal and kinship allies. In essence, Mohammed bin Zayed has driven modernization in order to strengthen his grasp on power.
This book explores Mohammed bin Zayed's regime security strategy, illustrating the network of alliances that seek to support his reign and that of his family. In an ever-turbulent region, the UAE remains critical to understanding the evolution of Middle Eastern authoritarian control.
Mohammed bin Zayed's strategy of fortification has focused on pre-empting threats from the UAE's native population, rather than from expatriates or foreign actors. As a result, he has consolidated power, distributing its administration among his tribal and kinship allies. In essence, Mohammed bin Zayed has driven modernization in order to strengthen his grasp on power.
This book explores Mohammed bin Zayed's regime security strategy, illustrating the network of alliances that seek to support his reign and that of his family. In an ever-turbulent region, the UAE remains critical to understanding the evolution of Middle Eastern authoritarian control.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2022
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October 26, 2025
Hedges provides a snapshot of 21st century United Arab Emirates, with a focus on regime stability and national security. It's a reasonably short read, but it's also meant to be supplementary; in other words, if you know nothing about UAE, this is not the book with which you'd start. He zooms in on the delicate balance between and even within the tribes that make up the UAE, pointing out the coups and attempted coups that have shaken the system earlier in history. He examines the impact of the Arab Spring significantly.
Hedges provides a lot of facts and tables (not all of which show up great in a Kindle) and does a good job of citing his sources. However, his arguments can be a little hard to follow sometimes, especially as he seems to take any evidence he cites as proof of whatever he's saying, even when taking in contradictory points. For example, he will note the increase in the number of key leaders appointed from key clans and the number of meritorious but unconnected technocrats as proof of the same point he claims to be making, though obviously these are generally opposing movements.
The government of UAE is particular about scrubbing and polishing its image, as well as the facts it permits to be broadcast/available within the Emirates. One would be well-advised to take in the regime version of itself, both to appreciate what they think of themselves/what they want others to think, and to balance what can be a fairly critical work by Hedges. Anyway, if you're new to the UAE, you'd want to start with a more general work with a broader span. This particular book will get you up to date to about 2020 and gives special emphasis to who's who and how the government is attempting to keep itself relevant and in power into the 21st century. Definitely worth reading if you have some interest or focus in the region, but probably too narrow and specific for the just curious generalist.
Hedges provides a lot of facts and tables (not all of which show up great in a Kindle) and does a good job of citing his sources. However, his arguments can be a little hard to follow sometimes, especially as he seems to take any evidence he cites as proof of whatever he's saying, even when taking in contradictory points. For example, he will note the increase in the number of key leaders appointed from key clans and the number of meritorious but unconnected technocrats as proof of the same point he claims to be making, though obviously these are generally opposing movements.
The government of UAE is particular about scrubbing and polishing its image, as well as the facts it permits to be broadcast/available within the Emirates. One would be well-advised to take in the regime version of itself, both to appreciate what they think of themselves/what they want others to think, and to balance what can be a fairly critical work by Hedges. Anyway, if you're new to the UAE, you'd want to start with a more general work with a broader span. This particular book will get you up to date to about 2020 and gives special emphasis to who's who and how the government is attempting to keep itself relevant and in power into the 21st century. Definitely worth reading if you have some interest or focus in the region, but probably too narrow and specific for the just curious generalist.
Displaying 1 of 1 review