SOPHIE IBBOTSON is an international business
consultant and founder of Maximum Exposure Limited.
She is also the author of five Bradt Travel Guides
covering Kashmir, Uzbekistan and Sudan.
{ united arab emirates }
“King of kings” has been a popular – if hyperbolic –
title for rulers since the time of the Assyrian Empire.
But in the case of the emir (king) of Abu Dhabi, it’s
actually true. Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
is the head of state of the UAE, which is a federation
of seven emirates, each with its own hereditary emir.
The UAE is a particularly curious case. The state
was only created in 1971, and yet whereas other newly
independent states opted for modern, democratic
forms of government, doing away with the vestiges
of hereditary rule, the sheikhs chose an autocracy.
This reinforced traditional tribal hierarchies and
allegiances, but created a can of worms for the future.
The challenges of an absolutely monarchy for
the UAE are two-fold. Firstly, there’s the issue of
rivalry between the emirates and between princes.
Sheikh Zayed, founder of the nation, had 30 children.
Love is not lost between them, and they wrestle for
power behind palace walls. Allegations of attempted
coups are frequent, although the country’s security
apparatus works hard to keep them quiet.
Secondly, this absolute monarchy has no means
for dealing with protest or opposition. Corruption
is endemic, and human rights abuses – especially of
vulnerable migrant workers – frequent. The UAE
ranks poorly for civil liberties and political rights.
Amnesty International has accused the UAE of an
“unprecedented clampdown” on dissent. Those who
question the emirs are imprisoned, exiled, silenced.
But no ruler can keep his people down forever.
If history has anything to teach us, it is that one day
they will rise up and take back power. For an absolute
monarchy, ultimately, it’s a case of reform, or die. ag
“The ruler, any ruler, is only there to serve his people
and secure for them prosperity and progress”- Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918–2004)
Cities of Gold
the three mad Kings
The wretched King Nebuchadnezzar, fourth King of the
Babylonians, who went mad after his banishmentEngland’s King George III is widely known for his
paranoia and madness, but these three historic
royals in Asia give him a run for his money.nebuchadnezzar ii of babylon (604–562 bce)
In the Old Testament, Babylonian ruler King
Nebuchadnezzar famously recounts his descent into
madness. According to the story, the conceited royal
was punished for his disbelief in the Hebrew god,
exiled to the wild to live like an animal, where he
descended into howling insanity. This biblical story
accounts for the means by which royal insanity was
measured in Judeo-Christian times.t he zhengde emPeror of china (1491–1521)
Known for his malice and irrationality, this emperor
of the Ming Dynasty had a penchant for embarking
on impulsive military crusades. He was also flanked
by one General Zhu Shou, who was completely
imaginary. After he and his head of state affairs,
Liu Jin, had a falling out, the emperor reportedly
sentenced the unfortunate eunuch to three days
of torture of “slow slicing”.i an the v terrible (1533–1584)
His name says it all. The first tsar of Russia is known
for expanding his territories into Eastern Europe’s
Kievan Rus, and spearheading the brutal secret
police. He carried out the systematic, and sadistic,
torture of nobleman. He even murdered his own son,
killing him after hitting him with a pointed staff in a
particularly heated temper.IMAGE © WIKICOMMONSheritage