Rory Miller is professor of government at Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service in Qatar. He advises various governmental and private organizations on issues relating to Gulf security and socioeconomic development. He lives in Qatar.
“Rory Miller’s accessible and thoughtful history is an important
addition to the expanding literature on the Gulf. Miller traces the
evolution of the Gulf order from one that was once dominated by
Britain to one in which small states make large claims… To fully
understand where this alliance goes from here, Miller’s important
book should prove an indispensable guide.”—Survival
'Rory Miller's readable and scholarly book, Desert Kingdoms to
Global Powers, is a must-read for specialists and general readers.
Today we take the key roles of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and others for
granted. Miller has shown us, in his most accessible style, how
these countries went from being some of the poorest places in the
world to the wealthiest, with influence that was unimaginable just
a few decades ago.'—Ambassador John Limbert, former Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State for Iran
'Rory Miller's timely book, Desert Kingdoms to Global Powers,
enriches our knowledge and broadens our understanding of the
unprecedented rise of the Arab Gulf States in world economics and
politics. The book is immensely useful for academics, specialists,
students and general readers about how these once neglected desert
kingdoms have started to assume a global role and
leadership.'—Abdullah Baabood, director of the Gulf Studies
Program, Qatar University
'Amidst decades of rapid development and the onset of conflicts
across the Middle East, the Arab Gulf states – despite their
relative size – have become hugely influential actors on the
world stage, albeit rife with internal contradictions, and caught
between tradition and modernity. The struggle to resolve these
tensions is a prominent theme across this impressive tome. Miller
expertly guides the reader across the treacherous terrain of Gulf
politics, bringing the subject matter to life by offering a rich
and vibrant discussion of the region. His first-hand experience in
the Gulf provides an important yet highly accessible analysis of an
increasingly important region. This is an excellent book that
captures the vivacious nature of Gulf politics, ultimately leaving
the reader eager for more.'—Simon Mabon, author of Saudi Arabia and
Iran: Power and Rivalry in the Middle East
'Rory Miller puts collective enterprise and individual
achievement at the heart of an integrated perspective on the
Gulf states which weaves together complex strands of oil,
leadership and geopolitics. This factually rich and up-to-date
account reveals how each state has pursued its own type of
modernity, state security and social stability since the heyday of
the nationalization of oil production, and illuminates the ways in
which the American security guarantee, post-colonial
sovereignty issues and the persistence of illiberal regimes have
also shaped diplomatic strategies and policy adaptations. As
China and Russia raise their stakes in the region, the Gulf States
once again face challenges to policy autonomy in the face of rising
pressures. Desert Kingdoms to Global Powers delivers the
key to understanding the renewed importance of the region today and
in the coming years.'—Dr Kun-Chin Lin, Director, Centre for Rising
Powers, University of Cambridge
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