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A quest for significance: Gulf oil monarchies' international 'soft power' strategies and their local urban dimensions

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  • Hertog, Steffen

Abstract

This paper documents how the GCC oil monarchies have been using their oil wealth to buy the accoutrements of ‘good citizenship’ and ‘progressiveness’ in the international arena through costly policy projects that involve urban interventions like the building of international museums, universities and ‘zero-carbon cities’ – urban enclaves with an audience that is almost exclusively international. The paper explains how these projects reflect a desire to comply with Westerndefined ‘liberal’ international norms and tastes to gain international recognition, shows how they reflect broader patterns of segmented state building in the Gulf, and explores some of the social tensions they create locally.

Suggested Citation

  • Hertog, Steffen, 2017. "A quest for significance: Gulf oil monarchies' international 'soft power' strategies and their local urban dimensions," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 69883, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:69883
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/69883/
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michaels, Guy, 2010. "Challenges for research on resource-rich economies," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 55256, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Steffen Hertog, 2008. "Petromin: The slow death of statist oil development in Saudi Arabia," Business History, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(5), pages 645-667.
    3. Davidson, Christopher, 2010. "Persian Gulf – Pacific Asia linkages in the 21st century: a marriage of convenience?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 55250, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Baldwin-Edwards, Martin, 2011. "Labour immigration and labour markets in the GCC countries: national patterns and trends," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 55239, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Barakat, Sultan & Zyck, Steven A., 2010. "Gulf state assistance to conflict-affected environments," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 55240, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Hvidt, Martin, 2013. "Economic diversification in GCC countries: past record and future trends," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 55252, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Brinkley, Ian & Hutton, Will & Schneider, Philippe & Coates Ulrichsen, Kristian, 2012. "Kuwait and the knowledge economy," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 55662, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. Hertog, Steffen, 2008. "Petromin: the slow death of statist oil development in Saudi Arabia," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 29865, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    9. Colton, Nora Ann, 2011. "Social stratification in the Gulf Cooperation Council States," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 55242, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    10. Al-Ojayan, Hessah, 2016. "Treating the oil addiction in Kuwait: proposals for economic reform," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 67888, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. Cronin, Stephanie & Masalha, Nur, 2011. "The Islamic Republic of Iran and the GCC states: revolution to realpolitik?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 55248, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    JEL classification:

    • N0 - Economic History - - General

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