The Conciliatory Sheikhs in the Trucial Omani Coast and Their Political Role 1914-1971

Abstract

The importance of studying the ruling Arab tribes and their political role in the Trucial States (1914–1971) lies in its aim to understand the historical roots of governance and authority in the Arabian Gulf region, and to reveal how tribal structures contributed to shaping the political systems that preceded the establishment of the modern United Arab Emirates.

The ruling Arab tribes represent one of the fundamental pillars of Gulf society, and they played a pivotal role in managing governance, organizing internal and external relations, and dealing with regional and international powers, especially during the period of British influence and the increasing foreign interests in the region.    

The importance of this topic also lies in analyzing the nature of the relationship between the tribe, the sheikhdom, and the state, and how political and economic transformations affected the course of local governance, leading up to the union in 1971. This study will contribute to enriching the Gulf and Arab libraries with further knowledge about the development of political thought in a tribal environment, and will help in understanding the factors that paved the way for the establishment of the modern federal entity of the United Arab Emirates.  In addition, this study gains its importance from its focus on a precise period of time (1914–1971), characterized by the complexity of events and the multiplicity of active forces in the region, which makes it a suitable framework for analyzing the roles of local rulers in light of global and regional transformations, and clarifying the extent of their influence in building political, social and economic stability for the Trucial Coast of Oman.