Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUWAIT1509
2007-10-11 15:30:00
SECRET
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

UPDATED KUWAIT DEMOCRATIC REFORM STRATEGY

Tags:  PGOV PREL KPAO KMPI KDEM ECON AMGT XF KU 
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VZCZCXRO7036
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHKU #1509/01 2841530
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 111530Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0107
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 001509 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PI, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO KMPI KDEM ECON AMGT XF KU
SUBJECT: UPDATED KUWAIT DEMOCRATIC REFORM STRATEGY

REF: A. STATE 130991

B. KUWAIT 113

C. 05 KUWAIT 2091

Classified By: CDA Alan Misenheimer for reason 1.4 (d).

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 001509

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PI, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO KMPI KDEM ECON AMGT XF KU
SUBJECT: UPDATED KUWAIT DEMOCRATIC REFORM STRATEGY

REF: A. STATE 130991

B. KUWAIT 113

C. 05 KUWAIT 2091

Classified By: CDA Alan Misenheimer for reason 1.4 (d).


1. (U) Introduction: Kuwait proudly identifies itself as
the region's oldest functioning democracy. Kuwaitis across
the spectrum express continuing loyalty to the constitution,
which establishes an elected National Assembly and separate
executive, legislative, judicial branches. Respect for basic
rights of free speech and assembly are ingrained in Kuwaiti
society and are generally respected by the Government.
Recent years have seen positive developments in Kuwait's
democracy. Women won the right to vote and run for public
office in 2005. Two women have been appointed as ministers
since then and women ran for Parliament in the 2006
elections. A 2006 law has allowed the licensing of new daily
newspapers for the first time in decades. The National
Assembly tenaciously stood up to the Amir in 2006 by passing
a law reducing the number of electoral districts.
Nonetheless, there are challenges: citizens do not have the
right to change their government; elections are free and fair
overall, but there are credible reports of vote buying;
corruption is pervasive in government institutions; the
government payrolls are bloated with citizens unwilling to
work in the private sector; politics frequently focuses on
personal rivalries rather than public policy issues; and the
Government is so paralyzed by indecision that important
projects stagnate.


2. (C) Kuwaitis recognize the need for political and economic
reform. Even senior members of the Government have called
for change. However, Kuwaitis from across the political
spectrum are wary of any action that might threaten the
current political stability and economic prosperity.
Kuwaitis are keenly aware of external threats from Iran and

Iraq and internal divisions -- Sunni-Shi'a, urban-tribal,
liberal-conservative -- that could disrupt the status quo.
Kuwaitis resent heavy-handed meddling from outside powers,
including the U.S. The U.S. strategy for democratic reform
in Kuwait must address the need for major political and
economic change without providing fodder for opponents of
change who will point to reform as a U.S. imposition. The
U.S. strategy must also recognize the need to proceed with
caution in a society with a significant degree of homegrown
democracy and which has achieved a careful balance between
potentially fractious elements of society. Greater success
will come from supporting Kuwaiti initiatives and using
global models rather than U.S.-specific examples.


3. (S/NF) Priorities: In keeping with the strategy laid out
in reftel B, democratization efforts in Kuwait should focus
on: 1) enhancing the effectiveness of political associations;
2) supporting women's integration into the political system;
and 3) encouraging responsible youth activism. Post's 2005
democracy strategy included encouraging the legalization of
political parties as a major goal (ref C). However, in the
near term the legalization of parties would be likely to
disproportionately benefit Islamists, who are the best
organized of Kuwait's political groups. Legalizing parties
is a necessity for Kuwait in the long term, but in the short
term it is preferable to allow non-Islamist groups time to
gain the requisite political organizational skills. Post
will continue to encourage the professional development of
Kuwait's media as well as refinements to the 2006 press and
publications law, which still contains elements that restrict
freedom of expression.


4. (S/NF) Desired Outcomes:


A. Enhancing the Effectiveness of Political Associations

Strategy: Certain political groups, most notably the more
underdeveloped liberal political associations, have expressed
an interest in improving their organizational structures,
strategic planning processes, and public relations skills.
Helping them develop these skills through regional and
in-country training programs will allow them to engage more
meaningfully in the political process. Partnering with local
organizations to implement this skills-based approach should
be the key element of our overall democratization strategy in
Kuwait.

Programming/Tactics: The specific skill areas in which local
political and civil society leaders have identified training
needs include: leadership and management; skillful and
effective negotiation; political survey methodology;
strategic planning; political organization; public relations;
public sector advocacy; public speaking; and organizing
grassroots activism. This skills-based approach has three

KUWAIT 00001509 002 OF 003


key advantages. First, skills-based training is gender
inclusive and can be extended to all local political
associations and civil society organizations. Second, the
training will largely benefit less-organized liberal and
moderate groups and help balance the influence of Islamists
in future parliamentary elections. Finally, this approach
will be less immediately threatening to the Al Sabah
leadership than pushing for the legalization of political
parties or other intrusive political reforms. This reduces
the likelihood of a near-term destabilizing political crisis
that would work against democratization.

Consequences: Elections in Kuwait can occur at very short
notice. The new electoral boundaries favor organized
political groups, and tribal and Islamist forces currently
are the best organized groups. U.S. assistance could help
non-Islamist, non-tribally-based Kuwaiti political
associations better articulate their platforms and more
effectively reach their target audiences. Getting a
political message out takes time, so development of the
political associations should be an ongoing project for the
foreseeable future.


B. Desired Outcome: Women's Integration into the Political
System

Strategy: In the 2006 parliamentary elections women
succeeded in steering debate toward issues women cared about
most. However, women candidates received disappointingly low
numbers of votes and failed to win a single seat in
Parliament. This is partly due to cultural obstacles, tribal
voting and women's relative lack of political experience.
But part of the problem also lay in the fact that women were
seen as "women candidates" rather than simply as candidates.
If women can better incorporate themselves into existing
political organizations, they will stand better chances of
winning elections. Perhaps more importantly, women will be
able to influence mainstream political organizations to
become active vehicles for advancing the interests of women.
A number of women activists have invested a great deal of
energy in supporting some form of quota to ensure women's
election to the parliament. Instituting a quota in Kuwait
will be difficult and it will be more productive for women to
channel their efforts into existing structures.

Programming/Tactics: Post suggests three avenues for
enhancing women's integration into the political system.
First, we should help Kuwaiti women learn lessons from the
recent elections. Surveys will help identify ways women's
rights activists can more effectively encourage Kuwaiti women
to participate in the political process. Second, we should
help women learn how to overcome traditional social barriers
to advocate their political views effectively at the local,
national, and regional levels. This could be done in part by
drawing on the experience of female politicians and women's
rights activists from other Arab countries. Third, we should
actively target local women's groups for inclusion in the
skills-based training programs suggested above. It is
important for women to be better incorporated into existing
political organizations rather than becoming marginalized in
female-only activist groups outside the political mainstream.

Consequences: Women form a large majority of Kuwait's voting
population (57%). While many women are conservative and will
vote for Islamist or anti-U.S. candidates, increased women's
participation in the political process will be a force for
reform. This will be especially true if women are
well-informed about their interests and how to use the
political system to achieve these interests.


C. Desired Outcome: Encouraging Responsible Youth Activism

Strategy: Young, politically active men and women are a
potential source of reform in Kuwait. These youth activists,
many of whom got started in politics through the National
Union of Kuwaiti Students (NUKS),played an influential role
in the pro-reform, anti-corruption rallies and subsequent
elections in 2006. They represent a younger generation of
Kuwaitis with an active interest in their country's political
future and have infused the political system here with new
life. Like Kuwaiti women, the key now is to help these young
activists build on their successes, develop their political
skills, and integrate more fully into the political system.
As with the political associations, youth involved in
Islamist political groups tend to be better organized and
more effective, as witnessed by the Muslim Brotherhood's near
sweep of student elections in October 2007.

Programming/Tactics: The USG should help local student
organizations, especially the student parties at Kuwait
University, to develop their political awareness and advocacy

KUWAIT 00001509 003 OF 003


skills, and to identify future leaders for International
Visitor Programs. It is also important to engage with
NUKS-U.S., the organization's largest and most active
overseas branch. Many of Kuwait's liberal political leaders
have emerged from NUKS-U.S. and some of the leading youth
activists have cited their involvement in NUKS-U.S. and
volunteer activities in U.S. domestic political campaigns as
the impetus for their political activism in Kuwait. As part
of this effort, we should accelerate efforts to encourage
Kuwaitis to study in the U.S. Post should expand on its
current efforts (through MEPI small grants) to develop
training programs similar to the ones outlined above
specifically for students and recent graduates, equipping
them with the tools they need to better understand political
issues and effectively voice their opinions. We are also
developing a cadre of young Kuwaitis who understand open
political systems through our many exchange programs,
including Youth Exchange and Study (YES) and Fulbright.
These exchanges are proven, powerful tools of influence and
we continue to encourage major expansion of these programs.

Consequences: More politically astute students will keep up
pressure for reform. Empowering students to mobilize
themselves will erase the advantages currently enjoyed by
Islamist groups on Kuwaiti campuses and among Kuwaiti
students abroad.

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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s

Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
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MISENHEIMER