Review of Matthew HEDGES (2023): Reinventing the Sheikhdom. Clan, Power and Patronage in Mohammed bin Zayed's UAE, Hurst publishers, London

Abstract

Reinventing the Sheikhdom: Clan, Power and Patronage in Mohammed bin Zayed's UAE is an investigation into the security strategy of the United Arab Emirates, understood as the "set of measures taken to insulate the political elites from internal and external threats" that could jeopardize their permanence in power. Hedges speaks of a "neopatriarchal state" and "neocorporatist praetorianism" to define a regime with different centers of power isolated from each other and subservient to the government through interpersonal links. Hedges' focus is on the "micro-decisions," the various measures of co-optation and intimidation by Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ) to remain at the top of a complex network where tribal and kinship qualities come into balance with technocratic values.