Politics

Kuwait is widely regarded as a leader of Arab democracy within the Gulf region and a forerunner of political reform in a conservative neighbourhood. Recent years have seen a great deal of progress: in 2005 a law was passed giving women the right to vote and run in elections for the national assembly. Political participation is high, with the 2009 elections seeing a voter turnout of around 60%. Important political, social and economic issues remain unresolved, however. Kuwait is still divided on the issue of gender segregation in universities, for example. Relations with northern neighbour Iran have been far from straightforward, and opposition groups have hampered a new National Development Plan. This chapter includes interviews with Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah; Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata; and Lim Hng Kiang, Minister of Trade and Industry for Singapore.