Rentier state theory rst is a political economy theory that seeks to explain state. Rentier state theory rentier state theory rst, celebrated by lisa anderson as one of the major theoretical. Especially since 2000s the literature has been largely dominated by the study. This article aims to analyze the implications of the arab uprisings on the rentier state theory rst. Rentier state theory, arab uprisings, oil and politics, political. The concept of the state in international relations. In current politicalscience and internationalrelations theory, a rentier state is a state which derives all or a substantial portion of its national revenues from the rent of indigenous resources to external clients. In current politicalscience and internationalrelations theory, a rentier state is a state which derives all or a substantial portion of its national revenues from the. Resource curse theory holds that resourcerich states can be fatally. Today gulfs oil monarchies, archetypes within the rentier state theory. This chapter is concerned with african rentier states, a category first coined by an iranian economist hossein mahdavy 1970, writing about the. East scholarship grounded in rentier theory can adequately explain the political behavior. His research stay in helsinki has been generously supported by the swiss national science fund. Pdf economic diversification potential in the rentier.
Rentier state theory holds that control and distribution of natural resource revenues is crucial for state power, but that rentier states are fragile and inflexible in the long run, particularly in the face of international economic changes. The origin of the rentier model in the middle east ifri. This theory was first postulated by hossein mahdavy in 1. This article highlights the potential of the rentier state concept for general ir theory by making special reference to the arab middle. Hobson is professor of politics and international relations at the university of sheffield. Specifically in the case of rentier states, this is the economic foundation of the state which allows in boom periods the allocation of welfare benefits to society at large and which in times of fiscal crises sees a renegotiation of statesociety relations and with it adjustments in foreign policies. Tunisia through rentier state literature, which is focused on the relationship between oil and the domestic political economies of the middle east. For an optimal level of economic diversification in a rentier state.
Because rentier state theory insufficiently explains the politics of the uae, a marrying of constructivism and rst are needed to best capture the politics of the uae. Established in 2005, the center for international and regional studies at the. Rentier state theory and the arab uprisings uluslararas. Initial conceptualization of rentier state was based on the impact of externally generated oil revenues on the economic development as well as the nature of the state and statesociety relations. Both realists and liberals see the state as the central actor in the international system and thereby follow a western understanding of the state as the holder of the monopoly of force. Citeseerx rentier states and international relations theory. Is rentier state theory sufficient to explain the politics. In political science and international relations theory, a rentier state is a state which derives all or a substantial portion of its national revenues from the rent of indigenous resources to external clients.
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