ABSTRACT
This chapter examines a number of Arab monarchies from the perspective of their constitutional arrangements, the impact of tribal values and their handling of political succession. Drawing from the more general preceding chapters, the chapter addresses the increasing importance of constitutions among the Arab monarchies and examines the nature of the commitment of Arab kings to their constitutions. The relevance of constitutions in monarchies’ search for legitimacy and in their attempts to develop stable, predictable and legitimate succession arrangements will be considered. The importance of family and, to a lesser extent, tribe as influences on the behaviour of Arab monarchs is an important factor discussed in this chapter. The resort to family and other traditional factors, such as tribalism and Islam, to achieve legitimacy in their societies is a central element.
