This is an examination of the political, economic and social development of Oman from the accession Sultan Qaboos in a palace coup in 1970 to the promulation of the basic law of 1996. The book argues that the sultanate does not follow the "rentier" model but the patriarchal tradition.

This is an examination of the political, economic and social develoment of the Sultanate of Oman from the accession of Sultan Qaboos b Sa'id Al-Sa'id in a palace coup in 1970 to the promulgation of the basic law in November 1996. it looks at Oman within the context of the "rentier" model and argues that the sultanate diverges markedly from that model as the royal family has not utilized oil income to consolidate its control over the country but that, due to the patriarchal tradition of sultantal govenrment and the historical role of commercial, tribal and religoius elites, the Al-Sa'id have been forced to share power with those important elements of society.