Experience of Kuwait: Difference between revisions

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'''''4. What is the view of the population in Kuwait on globalisation regarding a win-win-strategy? Do they seek a win-win situation for everybody?'''''  
'''''4. What is the view of the population in Kuwait on globalisation regarding a win-win-strategy? Do they seek a win-win situation for everybody?'''''  


===Answer by Jana Hybášková:===
===Jana Hybášková:===


Kuwait was part of global trade for centuries. Historians will not agree with the “out of Europe understanding” of globalization. Nevertheless, global trade routes existed well before the Levant and East Indian Company were established. The price of wood, the price of rice, the price of sandalwood, price of gold were global even before then. Kuwait produced pearls; Kuwaiti sailors sold them in India in exchange for timber, copper and rice. They were sailing East for months and then returning West. Their wives never accompanied them. They live a local life, taking care of children and animals. Men were part of the global world. The issue was: How to protect woman? She should stay at home, each home was a small fortress, she should be veiled and never leave the house without male company. What seems today as a total disregard of women's rights, used to be a working security measure. Men did not return home in less than 8 months…
Kuwait was part of global trade for centuries. Historians will not agree with the “out of Europe understanding” of globalization. Nevertheless, global trade routes existed well before the Levant and East Indian Company were established. The price of wood, the price of rice, the price of sandalwood, price of gold were global even before then. Kuwait produced pearls; Kuwaiti sailors sold them in India in exchange for timber, copper and rice. They were sailing East for months and then returning West. Their wives never accompanied them. They live a local life, taking care of children and animals. Men were part of the global world. The issue was: How to protect woman? She should stay at home, each home was a small fortress, she should be veiled and never leave the house without male company. What seems today as a total disregard of women's rights, used to be a working security measure. Men did not return home in less than 8 months…
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So I only quote Wikipedia:
So I only quote Wikipedia:


By the time the ceasefire with Iran was signed in August 1988, Iraq was virtually bankrupt, with most of its debt owed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Iraq pressured both nations to forgive the debts, but they refused. Kuwait was also accused by Iraq of exceeding its OPEC quotas and driving down the price of oil, thus further hurting the Iraqi economy.
By the time the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran-Iraq_War#Towards_a_ceasefire ceasefire with Iran] was signed in August 1988, Iraq was virtually bankrupt, with most of its debt owed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Iraq pressured both nations to forgive the debts, but they refused. Kuwait was also accused by Iraq of exceeding its OPEC quotas and driving down the price of oil, thus further hurting the Iraqi economy.


The collapse in oil prices had a catastrophic impact on the Iraqi economy. The Iraqi Government described it as a form of economic warfare, which it claimed was aggravated by Kuwait slant-drilling across the border into Iraq's Rumaila oil field.[18]
The collapse in oil prices had a catastrophic impact on the Iraqi economy. The Iraqi Government described it as a form of economic warfare, which it claimed was aggravated by Kuwait [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directional_drilling slant-drilling] across the border into Iraq's Rumaila oil field.<ref name=Gulf>Gulf War. (2010, January 16). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 08:30, January 17, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gulf_War&oldid=338222701</ref>


Iraq claimed Kuwait had been a part of the Ottoman Empire's province of Basra. Its ruling dynasty, the al-Sabah family, had concluded a protectorate agreement in 1899 that assigned responsibility for its foreign affairs to Britain. Britain drew the border between the two countries, and deliberately tried to limit Iraq's access to the ocean so that any future Iraqi government would be in no position to threaten Britain's domination of the Persian Gulf. Iraq refused to accept the border, and did not recognize the Kuwaiti government until 1963.[19]
Iraq claimed Kuwait had been a part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire Ottoman Empire's] province [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Province_of_Basra of Basra]. Its ruling dynasty, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Sabah_family al-Sabah family], had concluded a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protectorate protectorate] agreement in 1899 that assigned responsibility for its foreign affairs to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom Britain]. Britain drew the border between the two countries, and deliberately tried to limit Iraq's access to the ocean so that any future Iraqi government would be in no position to threaten Britain's domination of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_GulfPersian Gulf]. Iraq refused to accept the border, and did not recognize the Kuwaiti government until 1963.<ref name=Gulf/>


In early July, Iraq complained about Kuwait's behavior, such as not respecting their quota, and openly threatened to take military action. On the 23rd, the CIA reported that Iraq had moved 30,000 troops to the Iraq-Kuwait border, and the U.S. naval fleet in the Persian Gulf was placed on alert. On the 25th, Saddam Hussein met with April Glaspie, an American ambassador, in Baghdad. At that meeting, Glaspie told the Iraqi delegation, "We have no opinion on the Arab-Arab conflicts." On the 31st, negotiations between Iraq and Kuwait in Jeddah failed violently.[20] On 2 August 1990 Iraq launched an invasion with its warplanes, bombing Kuwait City, the Kuwaiti capital.  
In early July, Iraq complained about Kuwait's behavior, such as not respecting their quota, and openly threatened to take military action. On the 23rd, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Intelligence_Agency CIA] reported that Iraq had moved 30,000 troops to the Iraq-Kuwait border, and the U.S. naval fleet in the Persian Gulf was placed on alert. On the 25th, Saddam Hussein met with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Glaspie April Glaspie], an American ambassador, in Baghdad. At that meeting, Glaspie told the Iraqi delegation, "We have no opinion on the Arab-Arab conflicts." On the 31st, negotiations between Iraq and Kuwait in Jeddah failed violently.<ref name=Gulf/> On 2 August 1990 Iraq launched an invasion with its warplanes, bombing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait_City Kuwait City], the Kuwaiti capital.  


Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
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