Political Institutions of Kuwait with Luai Allarakia

Rules of the Game – discussing democratic institutions

With Luai Allarakia I discuss Kuwait’s political system and institutions. He lays out the most important developments since its constitution was written in 1962, and how Kuwait – a country of 4.3 million people – tries to manage its political trajectory between presidentialism and parliamentarism. It is following its own path, that is led by a hereditary monarch, the emir of Kuwait. While a lot of power is concentrated in the emir, who can appoint the prime minister, the National Assembly of Kuwait, or KNA in short, is elected by the people. Elections are a national sport in Kuwait, says Luai.

He shares with us many institutional features and rules that may seem very specific to Kuwait, but are interesting to compare to other political systems. In the end, you realize that the system is based on many different written and unwritten rules and norms – like any political system.

So in this conversation we really take the time to go into some detail of Kuwait’s institutions and I think it’s really worth it to talk about the specificities that are partly similar and partly different from a well-established democracy.

Luai Allarakia is Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Richmond in the US. He got his PhD in Political Science and Government from the University of Houston, where he wrote his thesis on the Dynamics of Legislatures in Monarchical Regimes, exemplified by Kuwait’s National Assembly (KNA). His research specializes in Kuwait’s legislature, the Saudi Shura Council, and Gulf Arab affairs. He also regularly comments on political developments in the Gulf states. You can follow him on Twitter and Linkedin and link to his profiles in the show notes.

Find a full transcript and links to all material discussed in the show notes.

Schedule: 00:00 Introduction / 03:34 Personal questions / 06:28 Main discussion / 54:20 Recommendations by Luai Allarakia.

Luai Allarakia's contributions at the Arab Gulf States Institute.

Follow Luai Allarakia on Twitter and Linkedin.

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Many thanks to Ana Margarida Santos who edited the episode.

Please enjoy this wide ranging conversation with Luai Allarakia.

Music credits: To Be A Ball Of Light by Late Night Feeler and Fantasy Classical Themes by TheoTe.