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Analysis

Between Popular Representation and the State: The Politics of Municipal Council Elections in the GCC

Municipal councils are among the earliest civil institutions in the Gulf region.

Executive Summary

The participation and election of women in Saudi Arabia’s December 2015 municipal elections have drawn international attention and assertions of progress for women’s empowerment in the kingdom. Yet any assessment of the significance of this noteworthy milestone needs to consider the role of municipal councils and their contribution to political dynamics in Saudi Arabia, and in the Arab Gulf states more generally.

Municipal councils are among the earliest civil institutions in the Gulf region. This objective study of their history and political significance reveals three distinct periods which constitute a cyclical rise and fall of popular municipal governance. It also identifies four political dynamics that characterize the current revival of popular input into municipal governance.

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The views represented herein are the author's or speaker's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of AGSI, its staff, or its board of directors.

Kristin Smith Diwan

Senior Resident Scholar, AGSI

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President Donald J. Trump, fifth left, attends a group photo session with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, fourth right, UAE Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, second right, Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, left, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, third left, Kuwaiti Emir Meshal al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, second left, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi, right, during the GCC Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Rescuers work at the scene of a damaged building in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 13. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA via REUTERS)
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Ambassador Claire Le Flécher, center, in discussion with AGSI Senior Resident Scholar Kristin Smith Diwan, left, and AGSI President Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman, right.
Ambassador Claire Le Flécher, center, in discussion with AGSI Senior Resident Scholar Kristin Smith Diwan, left, and AGSI President Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman, right. (Credit: AGSI)

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