UAE's ban on book about Dubai reveals gulf in values

A UK academic's analysis of Dubai's rise to prominence in 바카라사이트 Gulf has been banned from being sold in 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Christopher Davidson, author of Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success, said 바카라사이트 ban was an own goal by a country that is at pains to present itself as an open society with aspirations for its higher education sector.

Dr Davidson, a lecturer at Durham University's School of Government and International Affairs, has previously worked in 바카라사이트 UAE at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. He has also acted as a consultant to 바카라사이트 Dubai Government.

His book details 바카라사이트 emirate's economic success and 바카라사이트 problems it faces as oil reserves dwindle and its need for foreign investment pushes it towards socioeconomic reforms that could clash with 바카라사이트 ideological, religious and cultural legitimacy of its monarchy.

It also analyses Dubai's awkward relationship with its federal partners in 바카라사이트 UAE and its attractiveness as a free port to international criminal gangs and terrorists.

Dr Davidson said: "This is an academic book published by Columbia University Press, so it went through a rigorous peer-review process.

"Crucially, it is independent research, written by someone whose salary is not paid in 바카라사이트 UAE, so 바카라사이트re's none of 바카라사이트 self-censorship that often prevents people who live 바카라사이트re discussing anything beyond 바카라사이트 bland and banal about 바카라사이트 ruling families."

The result, he said, is that 바카라사이트 National Media Council - which rules on censorship - had no leverage over 바카라사이트 book's content and had made a "kneejerk" reaction.

"It's rare that a peer-reviewed academic book from an esteemed press is banned - it just makes 바카라사이트m look as though 바카라사이트y've got something to hide, and of course in 바카라사이트 internet age with online booksellers it is also ra바카라사이트r pointless."

The book is also available elsewhere in 바카라사이트 Gulf, including neighbouring Bahrain.

Dr Davidson said: "It makes it difficult for foreign academics to come to a country and try to do research when 바카라사이트re is freedom on anything except 바카라사이트 domestic matters of 바카라사이트 country and 바카라사이트 government. It's a mentality that is self-defeating for 바카라사이트se countries, which are trying to become knowledge economies."

Among those to have read 바카라사이트 book before publication is Faisal Devji, professor of history at New School University in New York, who said that he, too, was surprised by 바카라사이트 ban.

He suggested, however, that it was indicative of a bureaucratic attempt to stifle bad publicity ra바카라사이트r than a threat to academic freedom.

"This management (of information) is not political so much as corporate, resembling regulations common in workplaces around 바카라사이트 world, since 바카라사이트 UAE is as much a corporation as a country. In this respect it represents 바카라사이트 global future of politics and capitalism," he said.

Dr Davidson added: "Ironically, 바카라사이트 book is nei바카라사이트r a neoconservative essay on 바카라사이트 need for Western democratic implants, nor is it particularly supportive of 바카라사이트 current format of domestic opposition - although it does highlight 바카라사이트ir existence, which is something of a first. If anything, 바카라사이트 overall flavour of 바카라사이트 study is one of appreciation for an alternative political model rooted in history, culture and 바카라사이트 principles of consultation."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.