Job Discussion Forums

[jdl]

It is actually amazing how Oman has maintained its international 'friendly' status, fostered internal peace and general prosperity without falling obviously into any extreme ideological camp or execising draconian domestic policy. Truly a case book for successful social engineering and reconstruction! ----keep the people employed, safe, educated, above the poverty line with a great social safety net; maintain an international presence of peace, calm, reason and cooperation; enhance parallel and intricately intertwined governance structures; all the while supported by a strong and silent CID.

True genius....absolutely unique.

[Pikgitina]

I really like the way you articulated that, jdl. And yet, Oman is so understated. Absolutely unique as you say .

What we shouldn't forget though, is that dissent is still not tolerated (obviously). Apparently, the many (Omanis) that are not happy with the current ruler and the way things are going now are closely monitored. The ruler does rule absolutely - doesn't he?

Here is an interesting article. I'm no expert so I can't vouch for accuracy or say anything about its (lack of) bias. It was written in 2004. Quite hard to find this kind of stuff on Oman. If anybody knows of any other articles or independent publications on this part of the world, do let me know, would ya?

http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2004/issue3/katz.pdf

Commentary welcome!

[jdl]

It is an interesting article explaining why 'things' will certainly go wrong in Oman in the professor's view. An article with a very definite anti Sultan premise and slightly 'conspiracy theorist' tone and style.

The point that could have been made and explained was how Oman has managed to stand above other gulf nations given 'all that is wrong or going wrong' according to Professor Katz. An opportunity, to discuss the how and why the nation is as effective as it is, was missed by the professor.

An interesting and helpful read would be an article which analyzes how and why things have gone as well as they have in contrast to other gulf/middle east nations given that Oman has limited resources in comparison. The unique intertwining and interdependence of the Ministries, Shura Councils, Wali Councils and traditional Sheik/tribal governments is amazing and mind boggling in itself alone. The relationship between the college system and domestic policy is another area in which some large thinking has taken place. I am afraid the Professor has helped little in an understanding of the 'Oman phenomenon'....a story waiting to be told.

What is required to advance the body of knowledge is a rather thoughtful, detached analysis of the last 50 years of change in Oman as a comparative study with other nations in the area. There is gold in this type of analysis. Is there an academic up to the challenge? Where are our historians and political/social scientists on this topic?

[jdl]

A couple of other interesting reads from a business perspective:

http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreEconomies/?economyid=146

http://www.pri-center.com/country/country_specific.cfm?countrynum=151

http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?c=3&cg=4&t=1&id=27283

The following is an exerpted summary review of general political development in Oman with a focus upon domestic policy. This is very dated and as such presents a more historical account of political thinking.

http://books.google.ca/books?id=f9kOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA181&lpg=PA181&dq=political+analysis+oman&source=bl&ots=P6r6ZIzHzv&sig=Gk9_1RzUA_7asfsjkYG0coYxSLE&hl=en&ei=mc1ESre9B8LBtwf4lYmvAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10

The title of the book by Townsend is very apt. It is very dated however; with its main interest in a comparison to a more contemporary analysis noting the changes in perceptions of Oman by academics and authors.... a sort of comparison of Weltanschauung

[Pikgitina]

Thanks for posting these links, jdl. I'll check them out .

You're right, Katz's article does highlight mostly the negatives. Pity.

[Geronimo]

jdl,

Have you come across "SAS Secret War: Codename Operation Storm"
by Major General Tony Jeapes?
( http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2009/05/sas-secret-war/ )

In light of your interest in the modern history of Oman, I think
that you would find it to be an informative read.

Also, I've just found a link to a fine selection of photos
taken in Dhofar, and in other regions of Oman, during 1974-76...
http://www.kdesign.info/oman/gallery5/index.htm
They serve to demonstrate the civic development that
was underway at that time.

Geronimo

[Neil McBeath]

Here is a list of further background reading.

Sir Peter de la Billiere (1994) Looking for Trouble - Harper Collins
Peter Ratcliffe (2000) Eye of the Storm - Michael O'mara Books

both these books include a couple of chapters on the Dhofar War and support much of Jeapes. Sir Peter went on to command the SAS and the British forces during the war to liberate Kuwait. Peter Ratcliffe served as an SAS tropoper, and rose to be Regimental Sergeant Major.

John Akehurst (1982) We Won a War - Michael Russell Books
Ken Perkins (1988) A Fortunate Soldier - Brasseys Defence Publishers

Sir John commanded the Dhofar Brigade during the war. Sir Ken seved in that command and subsequently served as cCommander Sultan's Armed Forces.

Ranulph Fiennes (1975) Where Solders Fear to Tread - The travel Book Club
Ian Gadner (2006) In the Service of the Sultan - Pen and Sword Ltd

These are accounts from men who served in the War as junior officers. Sir Ranulph went on to have a distinguished career as an explorer. Ian Gardner stayed in the British forces and ended his career as a Brigadier.

A book to avoid at all costs is

Alan Hoskins (1988) A Contract Officer in the Oman - D.J. Costello

Hoskins served briefly - 4 years - as an administrative Staff Officer in Oman in the early 1980s. He appears to have never left the capital area, and seems to have spent his time almost entirely with expatriates. Unfortunately, like several people on these fora, he laboured under the delusion that his limited experience an expert on all things Omani. The result was this libelous piece of trash. On publication, it received a blistering review in the Journal of the Sultan's Armed Foreces Association and the last time I saw a copy, it was in a heap of remainers on the floor of a discount bookshop in Charing Cross Road.

[Marquess]

I have lost count of the amount of old boys in the Middle East who claim to have been somehow involved with the minor British skirmishes in Oman. The amount of third rate books that have been published by so called veterants is astonishing.

[Mojoski]

[Neil McBeath]

Marquess,

Perhaps you would care to enlighten me a little further.

Hoskins never claimed to be a veteran. He was some sort of bean counter at HQ. SAF, unaware that his job was to get value for money, rather than just to cut expenditure.

Exactly which books by so-called veterans are you referring to?

[Marquess]

No, I don't entertain military fetishism.

[Neil McBeath]

Marquess,

I am so sorry.

I thought that your first post indicated that you knew something about the subject and that you had something to contribute.

I see now that it was just a fatuous comment by someone who knows nothing about the subject, its literature, or the men who wrote that literature.

[Marquess]

I certainly know enough about old Gulf ex-pats sitting around on compounds drinking sid and telling fatuous war stories. How are you getting on with "Dr" Lanigan?

[Geronimo]

I can guess what you're thinking!
"How does one address a Marquess formally?"

Well, fortunately, Debretts has come to the rescue
with this detailed account:-
http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-address/titles/marquess-and-marchioness.aspx

I'd suspected that our American cousins,
insufficiently familiar with long-established European rules of etiquette,
were scared of committing a faux pax.

Glad to be of service!

Geronimo
P.S. What is this thread supposed to be about again?