The Impact of Islamic Groups and Arab Spring on the Youth Political Movement in Kuwait

46 1 Haila Al-Mekaimi is Assistant Professor of Political Science, College of Social Science, Kuwait University 2 Kristin Diwan, “Kuwait's impatient youth movement,” 29-6-2011, http://mideast.foreignpolicy .com/posts/2011/06/29/kuwait_s_youth_movement Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Vol. XXXVI, No.1, Fall 2012 The Impact of Islamic Groups and Arab Spring on the Youth Political Movement in Kuwait Haila al-Mekaimi1 Kuwait is considered a young society; Kuwait also enjoys a high number of social network users, primarily from the youth segment. Electronic technology has had a multiplier effect on youth power and its presence on the political scene has included rapid broadcasting of news; the ability to mobilize and communicate in demonstrations; and to initiate other forms of peaceful protest that were clearly manifested in 2011 during the course of the “Arab Spring.” Kuwaitis were heavily influenced by the Arab Spring, and continue to follow events on a daily basis on satellite channels such as “Al Jazeera” and “Al-Arabiya,” which cover the daily dynamics of political change in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and other Arab States. The Kuwaiti youth share many characteristics with the region's larger protest groups; they aim mainly to combat a government which they see as corrupt, obstructive, and against the interests of maintaining constitutionally-mandated processes and institutions.2 A number of politicians and members of Parliament from the Islamictribal based opposition tried to emulate the events of the Arab Spring by rallying for constitutional amendments, calling for relieving the Prime Minister of his duties, demonstrating on Fridays, and breaking into Parliament to chant slogans similar to those used in Tahrir Square against former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Despite Kuwaiti exposure to and influence by the Arab Spring, the political developments that Kuwait witnessed in 2011 were actually the result of ongoing domestic political mobility in Kuwait that has been going 47 on since 2006. There are three main schisms: competition for leadership by the ruling family; Parliament vs. ruling cabinet struggle for authority over the constitution and its interpretation; and the rift between civil servants and elite merchants. The added tension of the financial boom and recent bust only exacerbated the political tensions which are now at a breaking point.3 The mobilization of youth in Kuwait dates back to the 1920’s when early national sentiments began to materialize against the rise of a Jewish state in Palestine. Since that time, early pillars of Kuwaiti political organizations were formed, with the youth in their forefront, and these organizations remain until today.4 But due to the failure of these leftist groups to pump fresh blood into its youth component, Kuwaiti youth started to be active in social movements remote from the traditional framework of institutional political organizations. In 2006, a group of liberal youth led the political reform movement “nbeeha khams” or “we want them five” which demanded changing the number of electoral constituencies from 25 to 5 constituencies.5 The movement was successful in achieving its demands, especially after they were adopted by the remaining political forces including the Islamists, the tribes and conservative forces. Research Problematic However, the “nbeeha khams” movement could not manage to transform itself into an ongoing social movement. The movement emerged from the demands of amending the constituencies and died out as soon as its demands were fulfilled. Although youth movements were dominated by leftists, liberals, nationalists and merchants from the 1920’s until 2006, with the “nbeeha khams” movement, the Islamic stream was unable to dominate the youth movement until 2011.6 The government’s failure to fulfill the demands for political reform and administer effectively was a major reason behind the state of youth frustration. As a result, a new phase of youth mobility began in 2009, demanding political reform, right to assembly and freedom of speech and expression. Some conservative political currents, specifically the Islamists 3 Ibid 4 Ghanem Al-Najjar, Introduction for Political Development in Kuwait, Kuwait, Dar-Qurtas, 2000, p.17 5 Qais Dehrab, “Enough games,,enough five,” Al-Shahed Newspaper, 3-11-2011, Kuwait. 6 Since 1979, the Muslim Brotherhood, a historical government ally, dominated the National Union of Kuwait University Students...