FROM the time of the second National Assembly until a few months ago, the political history of this nation has been marked by actions and policies that have often harmed Kuwait more than they have helped, resulting in more negative than positive outcomes.
It is fair to say that in the past thirty years, the vast majority of lawmakers have deviated from the values they were expected to uphold in their interactions with authorities, organizations, and even the general public.
Since Kuwait has been socio-politically diverse since the 1980s, it is essential to publicly address the repercussions of implementing policies that lead to anarchy under the guise of democracy. This was symbolized following the invasion in the most horrifying images that endangered the state’s ability to continue functioning as an institution.
However, this outcome was avoided because the focus of political visions extended beyond mere voting practices. Efforts were directed toward building a cohesive social, political, and economic identity for the country.
In fact, the nation’s loyalists, who gathered at the Jeddah Conference in 1990, aimed to define a strong national identity and instill in the next generation the importance of protecting their homeland.
Unfortunately, those who are still alive today are often disheartened by the state of the nation, especially the deterioration of the social compact. They now regret their support of the “flawed democracy” and have long been calling for a change.
Prior to the invasion, there was a plan by the ruler to revise the constitution in order to modernize democratic and parliamentary practices. This initiative followed an extensive study involving many experts and elites.
As previously mentioned, after the invasion, the political landscape shifted significantly. Some parliamentarians began to undermine social relations among citizens, and between Kuwait and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries. They did this by inciting tribal or sectarian tensions or insulting the rulers of these countries.
Others provoked conflicts with Arab nations, attacking them simply because their party, sect, or political group opposed those countries’ policies.
Unfortunately, when these issues were raised during official visits, the response was that “this is the nature of our democratic system. Parliamentarians have their own viewpoints, and we cannot prevent them from expressing themselves.”
Such a response highlighted the state’s weakness and provoked the rulers of other countries, leading to strained relations. Such tensions exacerbated Kuwait’s vulnerability both within the Gulf and Arab regions and on the international stage.
Everyone seems to have forgotten that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was originally a Kuwaiti initiative. At the Amman Conference in 1980, the late Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad proposed the idea to the late King Fahad bin Abdulaziz. On that very night, the GCC project began to take shape.
Subsequent agreements among the member countries led to the establishment of this Gulf entity, which demonstrated its effectiveness and strength in responding to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. However, denial of this achievement began with the onset of parliamentary chaos and irresponsible democracy.
Internally, Kuwait’s economy has declined, and various sectors, including infrastructure, services, and education, have become plagued by systematic corruption. The deep state has been increasingly controlling all aspects of the institutions.
Parliamentarians began to see themselves as the de facto rulers, with the ability to halt any procedure and prevent ministers or even the Prime Minister from holding corrupt individuals accountable. Their interference extended to matters such as traffic violations and criminal cases, leading to a situation where citizens wielded a “de facto power” that often overshadowed the authority of the state.
On the other hand, anyone who attempted to highlight these defects, call for constitutional reform, or criticize practices that have nothing to do with democracy faced intense backlash and were even canceled.
Since last May, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad has been taking bold measures that are beginning to yield positive results with the aim of restoring Kuwait to the respectable position it enjoyed in the past centuries.
Evidence of this important development and the success of these corrective actions can be seen in the positive changes occurring in the country and Kuwait’s renewed role in the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Currently, officials visiting other countries are received at the highest levels, the latest of which was the warm welcome given to the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef during his recent visit to the United Arab Emirates.
This reception highlights the significant progress in Kuwaiti-Gulf relations and reflects the gratitude towards His Highness the Amir for his role in rescuing the country.
Indeed, Amir’s visits to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE early in his reign marked the first signs of Kuwait’s reintegration into the Gulf community. These visits were also a clear indication of Kuwait’s new direction.
The Council of Ministers must invest in this by further opening up to the Gulf and the world, and most importantly, opening up to Kuwaitis, and addressing the negative effects left by the past periods.
