Why is Kuwait a nondemocratic country?

Answer 1

Kuwait is an authoritarian monarchy because the country has never had any forcible democratization. No monarch, especially from a dynasty that is over 250 years old, willingly gives up power. While there are some aspects of power which are devolved to the legislature, these are minimal in comparison to the sweeping authority of the Emir.

Answer 2

It depends on how the question is read.

If the question is asking: "From a definitional perspective, why is Kuwait considered to be a non-democratic country?", the answer is pretty straightforward. The rulers of Kuwait are Emirs or Princes, who inherit their power hereditarily. While there is an elected parliament called the National Assembly, most power resides not in the National Assembly, but in the Emir, who is unelected. Any system where the majority of power is vested in unelected officials is typically considered non-democratic.

If the question is asking: "From a historical perspective, what are the reasons that Kuwait did not become a democratic country?" the answer is a little more complicated. Probably the simplest answer is that Kuwait has been an Emirate since its foundation in the early 17th century. (Before it was nothing more than sand and desert.) It has been ruled by the same family of emirs without break, save for wartime invasions. When the British made Kuwait a protectorate, they chose to leave the governance structure of the Emirate untouched, which allowed it to remain in place without significant democratic reforms. (Compare this with most French colonies, where the French took great pains to re-orient the political systems of the conquered territories to a French model.)

Answer 3

-Kuwait cannot be referred as a non democratic government as it has a democratically elected parliament and a constitutional monarchy.

Answer 4

Because the people do not elect a government in free and fair open elections where anybody can stand for election. That said Kuwait is a civilised country.