Maintenance of Power: Political and Social Fabric

Abstract

The often violent and disruptive process by which one ruler succeeded another in the Trucial shaykhdoms had a considerable impact on the fragile economy and power structure of the entire region. The ruler of a shaykhdom operated in an environment where tribal loyalties, political and economic considerations were deeply entangled. In this chapter, a number of major events will be reviewed in order to illustrate the complexity of the ruler’s task and the precariousness of his position.