SUMMARY

[Note to reader: this Country page primarily contains brief information about state-based violence during the period 1946-1974, and to some extent 1975-1988. For more detailed information on organized violence after 1989, please consult the specific Conflict and Dyad pages available on the left-hand side of this page. These pages contain more detailed information regarding all three categories of organized violence in this country from 1989 and onwards (when applicable), as well as detailed information about state-based violence 1975-1988. The left-hand side menu also contains links to Actor pages for all groups involved in organized violence since 1989 in this country, as well as actors involved in state-based violence 1975-1988.]

Kuwait was part of the Ottoman Empire and became a British protectorate in 1899. The country gained its independence from Great Britain in 1961. Since then, an emir from the Sabah dynasty has ruled the country as its highest political and religious authority. In the 1990s an elected legislature was established in Kuwait that became increasingly assertive. Women were granted suffrage in 2005.

During the interstate conflict between neighboring Iraq and Iran in the 1980s, Kuwait provided financial support to Iraq, which subsequently left the country in debt to Kuwait. However, Iraq demanded that Kuwait cancel the debt and compensate Iraq for losses incurred when Kuwait had exceeded OPEC quotas during the conflict. Kuwait was also accused of stealing oil from Iraq in the disputed border areas between the countries. Upon Kuwait’s refusal to meet all demands, Iraq invaded and attempted to annex the oil-rich country in 1990. After failed mediation attempts between the warring parties, a UN-authorized international coalition under the leadership of the USA defeated the Iraqi forces in the beginning of 1991.

In 2005, Kuwait provided secondary warring support to the USA against al-Qaida.

Since 1946 Kuwait has experienced the interstate category of UCDP organized violence.