Page 431 - UAE Truncal States

Conclusion

could have alienated the Rulers and their subjects before they could
experience the benefits of material and political give and take in this
new State. When the federation was first discussed many people in
the Trucial States expected a federal government to do little more
than replace, where necessary, the British authorities, and thus to be
responsible mainly for defence and foreign affairs. The step by step
approach towards making a workable Federation out of the seven
unequal Emirates has been its saving grace in the past.
Returning to the first question about whether the Federation will
last as a viable political entity, predictions can only be ventured if the
question of possible threats to its existence by external powers is set
aside. If within the UAE the pattern of the past is continued and if the
protagonists of too rapidly increasing central authority patiently
restrain the urge to force unification, allowing every stage to evolve
when the time is ripe, there is every reason to believe that the
prospects for the UAE as a federal state are bright.
The trend towards greater unification for the sake of this principle
could be counterproductive and antagonise those who favour the
individuality of local government. More important, these trends
could jeopardise a valuable part of the democratic dimension. The
tribal communities of the Trucial Stales have traditionally practised
grass-root democracy. People could discuss their needs with familiar
figures in authority and express their opinion, but if they were
suddenly required to transfer their loyalties from the Ruler to
seemingly anonymous civil servants, less and less of the effective
original type of democratic response would survive. In time the
material benefits which the central government provides for the
people will generate a new allegiance to it. In a Federation, allegiance
to regional powers need not compete with allegiance to the central
authority; the two are complementary, indeed, a federal state
may provide a more natural and easier road to institutionalised
democracy.
The major concern of this study is to establish the overall structure
of society and the predominant factors in peoples’ lives before the
ever-increasing revenues derived from oil led to dramatic changes.
Today society is still in transition from the old order revolving
around pearls, date palms, camels, fishing and trade. The new order
spans a great variety of innovations which now play an important
part in peoples’ lives, ranging from comfortably cool houses, cars and
bank accounts to world wide travel. The changes also encompass the
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