Stateless Literature of the Gulf: Culture, Politics and the Bidun in Kuwait

The "Bidun" (stateless community) in Kuwait is explored from a literary/cultural perspective in this book, offering the first study of their literature and correcting the pitfalls of a descriptive approach. The Bidun are a heterogeneous group of tribespeople, former residents of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab countries, and the children of Kuwaiti women and Bidun men who are considered illegal residents by the Kuwaiti government. The book explores their historical and political context, position in Kuwaiti and Arabic literary history, comparisons to other stateless writers, and analysis of key themes in their literature and their struggle for recognition and citizenship.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 20 April 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The Bidun, a stateless community spanning the Arab Gulf, comprises an estimated 100,000 individuals in Kuwait. This diverse group is composed of tribespeople who failed to register for citizenship between 1959 and 1963, former residents of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab countries who joined the Kuwait security services in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the children of Kuwaiti women and Bidun men. The Kuwaiti government views them as illegal residents, denying them access to numerous services of the oil-rich state and often relegating them to slums on the outskirts of Kuwait's cities. Existing works on the Bidun community are limited, primarily rooted in an Area Studies/Social Sciences approach. This book stands as a pioneering effort, offering the first comprehensive exploration of the Bidun from a literary and cultural perspective. By delving into the literature of the Bidun in Kuwait, the author aims to rectify the shortcomings of a descriptive research approach and provide a fresh perspective on this marginalized community.

The author delves into the historical and political context of the Bidun, examining their position in Kuwaiti and Arabic literary history, comparing them to other stateless writers, and analyzing the central themes in Bidun literature and their connection to the Bidun struggle for recognition and citizenship. Through this literary and cultural lens, the book sheds citizenship, shedding light on the experiences, struggles, and resilience of the Bidun community. It contributes to our understanding of statelessness, identity, and the complexities of belonging in the Arab Gulf region.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780755644889