Chapter 1. Introduction; Chapter 2. State Formation; Chapter 3. Politics; Chapter 4. Economics; Chapter 5. International relations; Chapter 6. Conclusion; Glossary; Notes to the Reader; Bibliography; Index
Biography
Dr Francis Owtram holds a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and was an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, 2009-2026. He has contributed many articles on Oman’s history to the Qatar Digital Library and writes on Oman’s economy for Routledge’s annual survey The Middle East and North Africa. He has also provided analysis of the Sultanate’s politics and diplomacy for the journal Arabian Humanities and other leading scholarly publications.
"This richly textured book draws on Owtram's decades of engagement with Oman, combining deep familiarity with its history, politics, economy, and diplomacy to offer a compelling account of a state “on the edge” of multiple transitions. Throughout, he showcases an exemplary command of both primary and secondary sources, carefully situating the sultanate's trajectory within wider debates in international relations, comparative politics, and international political economy, and guiding readers through a rigorously documented yet highly accessible analysis"
Christopher M. Davidson, author of Abu Dhabi's IHC: The Biggest Company You've Never Even Heard Of
"At a moment when Muscat's quiet diplomacy has rarely been more consequential, Owtram delivers the definitive account of the Sultanate: geopolitically exposed, diplomatically indispensable, and on the cusp of a post-oil transition. Tracing the Qaboos-Haitham succession through the lens of regime security, he explains the paradoxes of Omani foreign policy. The result is authoritative, incisive, and essential reading."
Professor Steven Wright, Qatar Leadership Centre.
