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Kuwaitis Vote for a New Parliament...And Maybe a New Electoral System

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Kuwaitis Vote for a New Parliament...And Maybe a New Electoral System

The 2006 parliamentary elections in Kuwait have two striking features. First, they are occasioned by an intense controversy over the size of electoral districts—a seemingly technical matter with significant implications for Kuwaiti political life. Second, in this dispute, liberals and Islamists are very much on the same side—a rare alliance in the region, and unusual even in Kuwait.

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By Nathan J. Brown and Dina Bishara
Published on Jun 22, 2006

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Democracy, Conflict, and Governance

The Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program is a leading source of independent policy research, writing, and outreach on global democracy, conflict, and governance. It analyzes and seeks to improve international efforts to reduce democratic backsliding, mitigate conflict and violence, overcome political polarization, promote gender equality, and advance pro-democratic uses of new technologies.

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Middle East

The Middle East Program in Washington combines in-depth regional knowledge with incisive comparative analysis to provide deeply informed recommendations. With expertise in the Gulf, North Africa, Iran, and Israel/Palestine, we examine crosscutting themes of political, economic, and social change in both English and Arabic.

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On June 29, 2006, Kuwaitis go to the polls to elect a parliament.  While the elections have drawn little international attention, the poll could have deep implications for the future of the Arabian peninsula’s most democratic political system.  This year’s voting may seem routine—with two interruptions, Kuwait has had regular parliamentary elections since independence.  But the 2006 parliamentary elections have two striking features.  First, they are occasioned by an intense controversy over the size of electoral districts—a seemingly technical matter with significant implications for Kuwaiti political life.  Second, in this dispute, liberals and Islamists are very much on the same side—a rare alliance in the region, and unusual even in Kuwait.

This is a web-only publication.

Authors

Nathan J. Brown
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Middle East Program
Nathan J. Brown
Dina Bishara
KuwaitPolitical Reform

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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