المقال باللغة العربية في أسفل الصفحة
Sheikh Sabah Ahmed Al Sabah
State of Kuwait celebrates her National and Liberation days for a whole month of February
تحتفل الكويت طوال شهر فبراير بأعيادها
أعياد الكويت :
KUWAIT NATIONAL DAY 25 - FEBRUARY
العيد الوطني : 25 فبراير
عيد التحرير : 26 فبراير
KUWAIT LIBERATION DAY : 26 - FEBRUARY
النشيد الوطني الكويتي - Kuwait National Anthem
وطني حبيبي :
من حبنا لها
After the Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait, the Council of Ministers formed a committee (decree 8/1992) to collect the documents left behind by the Iraqi forces. The main purpose was to study and analyze these documents to detect the various dimensions and goals of the Iraqi invasion and to reveal and document the atrocities committed by the forces of the Iraqi regime.
In 1992 the committee took the name "The National Center for the Iraqi Invasion Documents of Kuwait" (decree 210/1992).Since its foundation the Center has made significant progress to accomplish its aims. Experienced Kuwaiti researchers classified and filed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi documents presented by citizens and other State agencies to expose Iraqi vicious goals.
Although the Center has recently been founded, it has published numerous books and research, participated in many local and foreign exhibitions, and presented consultations and studie
The Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait is a non-profit foundation that aims at accomplishing the following objectives:
* To prepare and publish research and studies related to the history of Kuwait, its heritage and its social and political affairs and to traditional and regional relations.
* To develop a sophisticated library of resources, documents, books, periodicals, research, studies and statistics in different languagess related to Kuwaits history and its statehood.
* To collect and file available resources, documents and studies related to the Iraqi aggression on Kuwait. These are investigated and analyzed scientifically so as to expose to the world the brutal practices committed by the defunct Iraqi regime against Kuwait and refute its allegations.
* To Monitor all that is published or broadcast about Kuwait, highlighting the Arab, international and Kuwaiti public opinion about Kuwait and its participation in domestic, Arab and international development through all possible means.
* To edit a scientific journal specialized in Kuwaiti affairs, and organize symposia, exhibitions and scientific events and other media to present an overall picture of the origins from which Kuwait derived its identity, distinction and humanitarian nature as well as its development through history.
Guided by these aims the Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait presents to the reader its Publications Catalogue that provides an access of the research and studies about Kuwaits traditions, its communitys true to life situations, its development through history, and biographies of its scholars and pioneers.
The Center consolidates its relationship with national libraries, universities and international academic centers which are concerned with the Middle East research via visits and exchange of publications.
This series of publications published by the Center and drawn from wide-ranging sources, are established by a team of expert scholarly researchers and are translated into many foreign languagess so that the reader can have before him the image of the authentic original document. The books are remarkable for the broad view they convey and the great deal of information they provide.
We will be glad to send free further information in the form of leaflets, details of contents, special quotations and publications. CRSK appreciates your writing, phoning, faxing or e-mailing your instructions or your inquiry.
The Centers Activities
First: Studies and Research related to Kuwait Civilization and Legacy
- Recount all dimensions related to Kuwaits existence and its Arab and foreign relations.
- Analyze documents and historic maps related to Kuwait in different sources.
- Cover topics related to Kuwait statehood and boundaries as well as disputes and challenges Kuwait faced in different historical periods.
- Reveal authenticated studies of Kuwait society and economic, cultural, and maritime activities and their development aiming at discerning the different epochs.
- CRSK, inter alia, has published authenticated biographies of Kuwaiti dignitaries and pioneers describing their achievements in scientific, cultural and political domains for the well being of the coming generations.
- CRSK , also, is after futuristic studies which deal with economic, social, political horizons of Kuwait’s society in the light of the international and regional developments and their reflections on the activities of Kuwait establishments and foundations.
Second: Analytical Studies of the Iraqi Practices and plans in Occupied Kuwait
Analyzing and scrutinizing of the collection of documents left behind by the Iraqi aggression agencies after being ousted from Kuwait disclosed astounding facts of the Iraqi demeanour.
The systematic sabotage Iraq carried out against the cultural and educational foundations such as schools, universities, the press, institutions and other foundations and agencies, as well, was documented by CRSK to spread awareness of its severity to the humanitarian society.
Third: Addressing Iraqi Allegations
CRSK cooperated with other State agencies and countered both Iraqs allegations that it has historical rights in Kuwait, and its denial of Kuwaits contributions to Arab development. The Center refuted Iraqi justifications to invade Kuwait.
Fourth: Cultural and Informative Activities
- CRSK participated in numerous conferences, seminars and book exhibitions and consolidated its relationship with several international scientific centers and institutions via visits and information exchanges and mutual activities.
- Besides, CRSK introduces political and media training courses to state officials about political, historical, and heritage relations.
- Lectures about Kuwaiti history and its heritage and of the world around us are delivered to secondary and intermediate school students.
- A number of documentary films about Kuwait’s events are prepared.
- CRSK submits consultations and creates convincing research and studies related to the various needs of those bodies.
- Relying on its competent network of correspondents in the USA, UK, and RFU, CRSK issues periodical reports dealing with local state affairs, problems and relations with great powers related to Kuwait, Gulf States and Iran. Approximately huge issues of these analytical periodical reports (eg till 5/10/2009: 180 from UK, 231 from Russia and 200 from USA) have been published and distributed on designated bodies.
- CRSK issues a journal entitles “Risalat al-Kuwait” (Kuwait News) which publishes Kuwait’s old documents, old history incidents, new foreign and Arab books added to its library, articles talking about Kuwait etc.
Fifth: The Center Publications
CRSK is keen to publish its research and studies and exchange them with the concerned personnel, has confirmed, via its publications, relationship with other matching centers, mails its publications to many national libraries, universities and centers interested in the Middle East research. CRSK has issued about 274 publications in different languagess till October 2009 not only printed but also recorded on CDs.
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Kuwait History and Geography
The following facts and information mirror the origin, history, status, location, social economic political system of the State of Kuwait. These facts shed light on the old activities of the people of Kuwait by land and sea, the political, economic and population changes and developments through history which extended for about three centuries, and balanced international relations which the rulers and the peoples committed to them. These obligations and policies helped them to cope with challenges and preserve their independence and evaded falling as vassals of the great powers which tried to impose their hegemony on the area. The stability that Kuwait Kuwait
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Kuwait in History
The urban existence in the region of Kuwait dates back to more than four thousand years as shown by the remains of the archeological antiquities found in the area. This is due to Kuwait’s unique position that rendered it a sea and a land link between parts of the Old World, and a centre for the unity and spreading of various civilizations, in addition to being an important position that controls the route to these civilizations and markets. Kazima, one of the ancient names of the region, was a stop for caravans coming from Persia and Mesopotamia en route to the eastern and internal parts of the Peninsula. It remained for a long time the commercial link between the Indian Ocean area, Syria, and Europe. Kuwait has been the junction of the longest and most important trade routes in the Old World. Failaka, with the fresh water wells it enjoys, was also a stop for the commercial vessels that link the parts lying on the Gulf tip and its southern ports on their way to Oman, India, and eastern Africa.
The State of Kuwait lies on the northeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula, boarded in the east by the Arabian Gulf, in the north by Iraq, and in the west and south by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The total area of Kuwait is about 17,818 square kilometers, and its population is about 2.2 million (according to 2005 estimate). The surface of the land is formed of stretching sand valleys and a few separate hills; however, the most prominent natural features is in Wadi al-Batin which lies in the north-west of the country and whose centre forms the Kuwait-Iraq boundary.
Kuwait has a number of islands, the biggest of which is Bubyan, to the north of which lies Warbah Island. At the inlet of Kuwait Bay lies Failaka Island with its historical fame. Beside it lie the two islands of Miskan and Uha, in addition to other small ones: Kubbar, Qaruh and Umm al-Maradim.
This region was known earlier as Kazima till the beginning of the seventeenth century. This port which is known by the same name lies in the northwest part of Kuwait Bay. The said urban centre then moved to the south of the Bay and was known as Grane and later Kuwait.
Historical manuscripts and data show that the beginning of Kuwait City was in the year 1613 AD, when a group of families and tribes began to arrive in this region as immigrants from Najd, insightfully realizing the importance of this position and the advantages of its location.
The tribes that settled in the region of Kuwait changed into an urban community that had a clear political entity distinguished by stability and prosperity, as testified by the travellers who visited the area, among whom was Murtada bin Ulwan (1709). The manuscripts of the British archives show that the rule was in the hands of al-Sabah family as of 1716. This indicates that the society enjoyed stability long before that.
After the stability of the Kuwaiti society was maintained and its activities spread on land and sea, there was a pressing need for a leadership to which the people could refer to in their affairs, and which enjoyed legitimacy and the ability to secure protection for their society and interest as well as representing them in social and political circles. A man from al-Sabah family distinguished by benevolence and righteousness was chosen as chief. The government was established in this dynasty, the crown inherited by the eldest adult male among them until the present day.
Pre-Oil Kuwaiti Economic Activities
The Economic activities of Kuwaiti society in its early stages, combined land and marine. The sons of this society dived into the deep seas in search for pearl wealth. They roved the seas on ships they made by their own hands and transported goods and traded between the ports of the Gulf. Africa and the Indian coast. They reached Colombo, Bengal, and eastern Indian islands. Historians and sea pilots put on record their praise of this maritime activity and lauded the sturdiness and big numbers of Kuwaiti ships. Kniphausen, the Dutch East Indian Company representative, reported in 1756 that at that early stage Kuwait had 300 ships manned by 4000 people working in pearling in addition to fishing and trade vessels. He also reported that Kuwait was a rising maritime power. This rapid rate of growth is clear in what the German Traveller Neibuhr mentioned eight years later in his description of his voyages to the Gulf and to the Arabian Peninsula between 1764 and 1765. He talks about the prosperity achieved by Kuwait and that its people owned more than 800 ships. Villiers (1938), the author of ‘Sons of Sinbad’, meaning the Kuwaitis, expresses his admiration of Kuwait’s maritime activity. He describes its sea front as one of the most appealing sights, rising maritime power. This rapid rate of growth is clear in what the German traveller. Carsten Neibuhr mentioned eight years later in his descriptions of his voyages to the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula between 1764 and 1765. He talks about the prosperity achieved by Kuwait and that its people owned more than eight hundred ships. Villiers (1938), the author of "Sons of Sinbad", meaning the Kuwaitis, expresses his admiration of Kuwaits maritime activity. He describes its sea front as one of the most appealing sights. It extends for two miles, forming a big workshop for making sail cargo-ships. This front is crowded with ships that never stop and incessant work that does not seem to cease. He describes the behavior of the Kuwaiti sailors on board the ships saying, they look at the ship as their home in spite of the hard and harsh work. They compete in achieving the most difficult task in obedience, satisfaction, and love, day and night in a manner he did not witness on board any other ship except with the Kuwaiti sailors. They cover ten thousand miles on their ships amid innumerable dangers without any uproar or resentment. They are sailors to the backbone and men in the real sense of the word.
In spite of the absolute authority which marine traditions entrust the captain with, the reports of history and testimonials of sailors indicate that the. Kuwaiti captain was generally exemplary in upholding justice and honesty, never squandering a farthing of the right of the sailors, the ship, or the merchant who trusted him. He dealt with all the sailors in a parently attitude and set the example by his own conduct. This was reflected on the crew and produced a happy atmosphere in which sailors sang joyful songs, and cooperation and endless sacrifice that led to the success of the voyage and its revenue.
The other aspect of the activities of the society of Kuwait in its early stages was in land activities in which big caravans carrying trade and passengers travelled to Damascus and Aleppo in the north. The caravan -as described by the English physician Edward Evans in his 1758 --reports as he planned to travel with one of those caravans - comprised five thousand camels led by one thousand men. This shows the size of this land trade activity, the political influence that the ruler of Kuwait enjoyed within the Arabian Peninsula, and his ability to safeguard the route of the caravan to reach its ultimate destination.
These land and maritime economic activities prior to the discovery of oil had far-reaching effects on the society of Kuwait and formed its orientation in its voyage of development. Solidarity, support, cooperation, joint work, the respect of promises and fulfilling them became a way of life. Hardship taught them that consultation is the safeguard and basis for the unity of society and its progress. Voyages at sea and journeys on land opened the doors for contacts with new and different communities and ideas; Kuwaitis acquired flexibility, open-mindedness and acceptance of what is new and useful. They became more equipped to face emergencies and learned from problems and dangers to be more practical in handling their matters-and practising their jobs. Fanaticism and favoritism were rare among them; their religious behavior was characterized by ease and tolerance.
Kuwait Confronting International Conflicts in the Gulf:
In its early days and throughout its history, which extends for about three centuries, the Kuwaiti society faced the ambition and conflict of big power as a result of its developing activities, prosperity and emergence as an influential power in its surroundings and because of its strategic position on the Arabian Gulf. In this period Kuwait drew ambitions and as a result was, a cause for conflicts among the forces that liked to control the international communication routes in which Kuwait represents a major link.
Kuwait succeeded in maintaining its character and existence as a distinguished civilized entity of a civil type because of the commercial maritime activity of its people, while the neighboring political entities were dominated by different social and economic types that varied between the feudal system and the bedouin one that did not move into the stage of a stable society.
This distinguished economic entity which Kuwait represented faced big powers surrounding it, such as the Ottoman Empire that were present in the Gulf: the Portuguese, the Dutch, and then the British. The Germans and the Russians also had their private interests. This imposed on Kuwait a certain. orientation which its rulers and people were committed to i.e. adopting a balanced policy that leads to preserving its independence and avoiding attempts to enter into subordination and hegemony spheres with any big power. This explains many of the aspects of the Kuwaiti relations whether with the Ottoman Empire gr others.
Kuwaits Relations with the Ottoman State:
Kuwait resisted all attempts of containment and hegemony by the Ottoman State, although it was keen on supporting and continuing the general Islamic relation with the Caliphate state, which is a religious relation that does not impinge on Kuwaits interests or independence, and does not imply any political rights to the Valis (governors) of the Ottoman State in Iraq over Kuwait. Kuwait did not pledge any allegiance to the Ottoman Valis in Basra or elsewhere, and depended on itself in repulsing the tribes attacks, nor did it accept to extradite the anti-Ottoman rebels who sought refuge in it. Kuwait even welcomed the desire of the British East India Company to transfer to it after the Companys dispute with the Ottoman authority in Basra; it remained in Kuwait from 1793 to 1795. Kuwait also refused to allow the Berlin Railway Line to pass through its territory in spite of the German pressure and the Ottoman approval and participation in its construction. Again it did not accept any Ottoman domination over its foreign policy, which definitely proves its independence. Kuwait concluded treaties, in its own interests such as the 1899 Agreement with Britain. Therefore, the rule of Kuwait since its inception and throughout its history has remained in al-Sabah dynasty which the people of Kuwait elected without any interference or jurisdiction from any foreign party. The Kuwaiti decision has always been independent, emanating from national vision and interest.
Kuwaits Boundary with its Neighbours:
An inquiry into the nature of Kuwaits boundary with its neighbors since its urban and political entity was formed and stabilized in the seventeenth century, reveals the clear facts from the cartographic works that were published about the Arabian Peninsula and the region of Kuwait. Such works were drawn by renowned scholars of different countries during the last three centuries. There are historical works that were published before any allegation or dispute about the borders of Kuwait was raised. Among these are the map drawn by the Ottens Brothers in the early eighteenth century, the 1818 map by Karl Ritter, the well-known German geographer, and the 1862 map by the British voyager Palgrave. These maps show Kuwaits borders especially the northern areas in a consistent and unchanging way. These borders became clearer, and more accurate as cartographic works developed and became more advanced in the nineteenth century. The boundary lines on these maps are nearly identical to the present status of the Kuwaiti boundary as outlined in the agreements signed by Iraq and which it recognized in 1932 and reaffirmed again in the 1963 Agreement, and once more in 1994. The only difference these maps show is that those borders used to extend more to the north so that the natural boundary represented by Sanam Mountain formed the northern border between Kuwait and Iraq.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Arab states began to get independence and were keen to declare their borders with their neighbors. Iraq was one of them; it exchanged memoranda about its borders with Kuwait. This led to a mutual detailed recognition of the borders, which were reaffirmed and defined in a later treaty between Kuwait and Iraq in 1963.
These borders which Iraq recognized twice prior to its aggression on Kuwait are the very borders reached by the Kuwait-Iraq Demarcation Commission which was formed by the United Nations after the liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi aggression. Its final report was adopted by the Security Council in its Resolution 833 in May 1993. They are also the very borders Iraq recognized for the third time in November 1994.
These borders did not appropriate new territory to Kuwait at the expense of Iraq; on the contrary, they demarcated fixed facts on the ground of reality, and allowed Iraq full access to its six ports without any inhibition, and through a sea front and interconnected waterways that are more than 300 kilometers longs It also granted Iraq areas in Safwan and Khawr Az Zubayr which is more than it asked for.
Consultation and Democracy, the Basis of Government in Kuwait:
Throughout its history, the relationship between the Kuwaiti people and their rulers had its special trait, that is, as witnessed by local and foreign historians, completely distinct and different from the surrounding entities. Sabah I bin Jabir (d. 1743), as the historian Saif al-Shamlan says, "used to consult with the people of Kuwait about important matters and would not take a decision without their advice. "The second ruler Abdullah bin Sabah bin Jabir (1743-1813) was described by the historian Shaikh Yussuf bin `Isa as "a decisive man, close to what is right, justice-loving, good politician, would not take a decision before consulting with his folks, would not dissent from what they would consider to be right." Sir Harward Jones (1793) describes him as "a dignified man, with a strong personality, greatly esteemed by the towns people. He was like their father, not as a ruler."
Medhat Pasha – the Baghdad governor who visited Kuwait in 1872 – wrote that Namiq Pasha the Vali of Basra, wanted to affiliate Kuwait to Basra but its people rejected that because they were not used to give in to orders or to be subjected by governments. He adds, “Its Sheikh today is called Abdullah al-Sabah and its people are Shafi’aites. They run their affairs according to the noble jurisprudence. Their ruler and their judge are chosen from among them, and they are a semi republic.” When the English resident in the Gulf Lewis Pelly visited Kuwait in 1865, he described the then ruler Sheikh Sabah saying, “He runs matters with the spirit of a father towards his sons. He would not hesitate to comply with a judge’s verdict even if he runs counter to his conclusions.”
Three historical glimpses about the nature of the special democratic relationship between Kuwaitis and their rulers are corroborated and documented by the reports of the voyagers who visited Kuwait and the maps on which Kuwait appeared during the various historical periods. Some geographers were careful to record this distinguished relationship they witnessed on their maps. Some used the title “Republic of Kuwait” to show the nature of the political system of this society. This label is used in the map of the Arabian Peninsula drawn by the German scholarAlexander Johnstone who is regarded as one of the most eminent English geographers in the first half of the nineteenth century; this map is included in the Grand Atlas published in Edinburgh in 1874.
This pattern of love, consultation, exchange of opinion, respect and trust between ruler and ruled went on. On its basis in later stages was established the constitutional life of the Kuwaiti society. Kuwait has been the precursor in the region since 1921 in establishing a consultative council. Efforts have continued since independence for adopting the constitution and the parliamentary system as an approach. This was reinforced by taking this heritage as a way of life; the ruler shares his fellow citizens social occasions. He visits them in their jubilations to congratulate them, and in distress to console them. They reach him in his audiences at any time, the young and the old, in their early way since the foundation of Kuwait. This spirit of consultation, exchange of opinion, and fully unanimity as one people, became clear in ordeals and hardships, when the nation unites in steadfastness and solidarity. This was what happened in facing the aggression; the Kuwaitis who assembled in the Popular Conference (Jiddah, October1990) during the period of_ the Iraqi aggression declared that they would accept nothing but legitimacy and the continuation of the style of government they have chosen since the origin of Kuwait. This unique phenomenon took the world by surprise as the occupying aggressor did not find among those whom he thought to be "opposition" anyone that would accept anything but legitimacy; and so all the excuses the aggressor fabricated for justifying. the aggression collapsed.
This test of destiny that the consultation and democratic system in Kuwait underwent has proved its standing, deep roots, ability with all its inherent values and the flexibility it acquired in absorbing variation, cultures, opinion, and interests within a framework of unity and totality, in an atmosphere of amity, tolerance, consultation, and the domination of law. This atmosphere of ,_freedom and the wide base of participation have encouraged popular voluntary initiatives for exerting efforts in the various areas of social development. So, in the society of Kuwait, with its limited population there have been established fifty-five public utility societies that render voluntary services and consultation in the different areas of social life. Within this wide area of participation, great efforts were exerted to achieve comprehensive social development; this has been fruitful in raising the relative value of man as the axis of this development and as its ultimate goal.
These democratic practices on which the society of Kuwait was founded have been crystalized in a modern constitutional democratic formula that separates the three authorities, and sets the regulations for securing wide popular participation in government matters and control on the executive authority, so as to safeguard the citizens basic freedoms and define roles and missions in a manner that guarantees balance among these authorities. This was enacted when the opportunity came with the declaration of Kuwaits independence of British protection in 1962. The call for this came from the nation and the ruler at the same time. A few months after independence, the ruler of Kuwait, Shaikh Abdullah al-Salem, gave instructions for the formation of a popular committee to draft a modern constitution for independent Kuwait. Two months after the formation of the committee, public elections were held to elect members for the first national assembly in the country. Government departments were reorganized so as to be able to implement the overall development movement and its plans. Most of the cabinet members were chosen from among the elected members of the national assembly which comprised fifty members. According to the constitution, the national assembly has absolute power to draw the legislative policies and control over the executive authority. Newspapers flourished and there are now six daily papers that represent all directions, in addition to two papers issued in English, and 61 political, cultural, and specialized magazines.
There has been full cooperation among all these different factors, viz. the origin and roots, challenge and steadfastness, the firmness and stability of government, and also its openness to the adoption of a formula for democratic practices emanating from the experience of this country which is not based on factions, the rulers whims or enclosure within a partys orientation. Instead, in it opinions and orientations vary and freedom of expression is freely practiced. Objectives and choices spring out of deep conviction in what serves the interests of the country and conforms to the essential values of the society of Kuwait without allowing difference to outdo the limits of amity and cooperation, or start a type of fanaticism that does not accept dialogue or obstruct reorientation if there are new avenues that prove to be conducive to opening new channels and constructing bridges among different orientations for cooperation and joint work.
Researchers in political science who followed Kuwaits democratic experience: such as Crystal (1981), Hudson (1979), Boz (1982), and Ismail (1982) have recorded in their writings their vision of this experience. They agree that "The National Assembly in Kuwait has succeeded to a great extent in assuming its social responsibilities; it manifested a great ability to function as a true legislative institution that has generated for the Kuwaiti society most of the institutions and political mechanisms that played the main role in the journey of development witnessed by Kuwait." Crystal reaffirms that "the Kuwaiti National Assembly has succeeded in being the democratic tool through which all find a chance to express inside it their stances and orientations. It has given a chance to all trends to express their political approaches without exception. This covers the bedouins coming from the desert, and the town dwellers such as merchants, businessmen, intellectual nationals, qualified graduates and those of political and advanced specialized expertise in Kuwait."
Al- Sabah Dynasty: The Rulers of Kuwait
The dynasty of al-Sabah – the rulers of Kuwait – belongs to Anza tribe , a division of Haddâr in al-Aflâj in Najd.; it is one of the greatest and most distinguished Arab tribes, Anza is Composed of clans such as Jumayla which divided into many branches in which al-Sabah is among them.
Al-Sabah accompanied by their cousins al-Khalîfa and al-Jalâhima migrated to the north in search for a new home that would suffice them with means of living and security. They settled in many Gulf places after roaming for fifty years. It was known that the migration of tribes and clans into other settlements was one of the characteristics of desert tribal communities through many periods.
This federation of Arab families was sometimes referred to as Banî Utba, and often as Utûb, Ottoobee or Banî Attaba. All these words derive from the Arabic root ataba, meaning to travel from place to place; therefore, Utub is not a name of a division of Anza tribe. Derivation of tribes’ names from verbs is something ordinary in the Arabian Peninsula: Arab al-Muntafiq are tribes united and were known as Muntafiq and Zafeer tribes were tribes who were united.
Historical resources differ about defining the date Al-Sabah dynasty ruled Kuwait because it is not clear as to when the migration of Utub took place, also the period they roamed the Gulf, and that they settled in Kuwait’s land and the selection of Al-Sabah as rulers. Anyhow, the British archives indicated that al-Sabah dynasty ruled in 1716; yet this utterance does not deny that ruling might precede that date. Modern research adopts the year 1613 depending on some indicators and historians’ documents that showed that the foundation of Kuwait was in 1613. Of those documents the message of Sheikh Mubarak which says: “Our grandfather Subah settled in it in the year 1022AH [AD 1613].”
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Geography of Kuwait
Location:
The State of Kuwait occupies the north western corner of the Arabian Gulf. It is bound in the east by the Arabian Gulf, in the southwest by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in the north and west by the Republic of Iraq.
Kuwait is located between latitude o28, 30 and o 30,06 to the north of the Equator and between longitudes 48 o,30 and 46 o,30 to the east of Greenwich. Its climate is continental which characterizes the geographic desert region in general.
Area:
17,818 kilometers2
Climate:
Hot for most of the year and generally dry ; hottest months are June to September 28-50o C ; coolest months are December to February 8-18o C , rainfall erratic
Population:
2.2 million, ( Kuwaitis are 880.774)
Administrative Districts:
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Kuwait in Historical Maps
Slot in his book The Origins of Kuwait, shows that the map of N. Sanson which was published in 1652, was the first to have the name of Kazima. On this map Kazima was not exactly placed. It was located far off shore. There is a clear political border on this map, which intersected it fromBasra
The cartographer Isaak Tirion drew the first Dutch map , which showed Kazima as a main port overlooking the coast, in 1732. Afterwards, a number of maps were issued such as brothers R. and J. Ottens map and the German publisher J.B. Homann which were issued in 1737. Kazima opposite to Failaka Island
By the end of the seventeenth century Kazima began to lose its importance as a port known in the region during the previous centuries. It was substituted by another neighbouring site: Al-Grane. It was the name that was closely related to the foundation of modern Kuwait Kuwait
“We came to a town named al-Kuwait, in the diminutive form. It is a sizable town that resembles al-Hasa. To be true, it is smaller but in its buildings and towers it is its like.”
Then he wrote:
“This Kuwait
The first map included the name Grane is Van Keulen’s map of 1753. This name was still mentioned in the maps adjacent to the name of Kuwait till the end of the nineteenth century, until it began to gradually vanish andKuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait adjacent to Grane and mentioned that the inhabitants called Grane city: Kuwait
I am going to present you within the span of time allotted for this lecture, a chronicle demonstration of the most distinguished maps that included the name Kuwait
• Let’s begin with the map of the southern western part of Asia published by J.H.Linschoten in the Netherlands Kuwait Island of Dagoada Goa with one of the cartographers. He published it in one of his books after his return to the Netherlands
• The French geographer N. Sanson drew the Arabian Peninsula map in1652. Slot published it in his book The Origins of Kuwait and mentioned that it was taken from the collection of Dr Sultan bin Mohammad Al-Qasimi.
This is one of the detailed maps of the Arabian Peninsula where Kazima appears far from the coastline in the direction of the northern Kuwait Europe since the seventeenth century. All Europeans knew all that inside or outside theOttoman Empire (Slot 40).
• Brothers R. and J. Ottens undated map of the Ottoman State andPersia
It is one of the most wonderful maps made by the Ottens brothers. The borders between Kuwait region and the Ottoman State Basra Basra branched into two: the first one was calledHormoz River through which big ships sailed into India and the second was used by the small ships sailing to Bahrain Basra , the first was used by small ships which sailed through Shatt al-Arab to Bahrain India
• The map of Turkishg Asia, a French map related to a generation of similar maps, appeared in the mid-eighteenth century, drawn by Herauli and printed in Paris
The northern borders of the region of Kuwait Arabian Gulf . It is the only name within Kuwait Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf cape.
• The Arabian Gulf map drawn by C. Nebuhr in his book includesg a description of his journey to the Arabian Peninsula and its first edition published in Denmark Peninsula in 1761.
• Nebuhr’s map was the first map that mentioned the name of Kuwait
• C. Retter drew the Arabian Peninsula map. He was a German scholargand one of the founders of modern geography. The map is taken from his book Erd Kunde which was published in many volumes in 1818. R. Kiepert republished them in 1867.
This is one of the earliest maps of the nineteenth century, which clearly defined the independence, and the political entity of Kuwait Kuwait forms a distinctive statehood in the northeastern part of theArabian Peninsula .
The old name Grane and Kuwait Kuwait Republic because of the similarity he found between the ruling system in Kuwait
On this map, Faw and the northwestern coastlines of the Arabian Gulf are inclusive inside the Kuwaiti borders. Kazima replaced Jahra city location near Ras az-Zor and named Kuwait
• A map which shows the Arabian Peninsula,g drawn in 1840, and issued under the supervision of the Society of the Defusion of Useful Knowledge in London.
This is one of the nineteenth century maps, which proves Kuwaiti statehood in world maps. It clearly defined Kuwait Kuwait
It is observed that the northern border includes the Faw region and other parts to the north of the present Kuwaiti borders. It is worth mentioning that Kuwait Kuwait
• A map showsg the Arabian Peninsula and some parts of Asia, published by A. K. Jonston (1803-1871) in his grand atlas issued in Edinburg , theUK
This is one of the rare maps, which clearly shows the borders of Kuwait Iraq Kuwait ’s coastline have the same colour as that of Kuwait
What makes this map unique is that it is one of the earliest maps that appeared in the nineteenth century including the name of Kuwait City
What is worthy of note and what distinguishes the identity and independence of Kuwait , is that it was the sole political entity with clear borders in all the Arabian Peninsula . In this map, Kuwait is distinguished by a special colour different from the other neighbouring political entities especially Turkey
If we compared the contents of the historical maps, which were published for more than three centuries and the resolution of the UN Commission for the Boundary Demarcation between Kuwait and Iraq , we find that Iraq
• Iraq , in its endeavors to join the League of Nations had to indicate that its neighbours agreed upon its borders. It officially applied to Kuwait
• In 1939, Iraq 1250 meters far from the old customs station, meanwhile Kuwait believed it was only 1000 meters off that station, and there was also a third point of view of a British expert.
• When the UN Commission for Demarcating the Borders between Kuwait and Iraq 1609 meters ) distance south to the old customs station; meanwhile the Iraqi opinion asserted that the location was at1250 meters . The Commission balanced both opinions and made a compromise, i.e. the notice board should be located at 1430 meters . Therefore, the notice board was located according to this amendment which depended on two points of view save Kuwait
• Therefore, Kuwait lost 430 meters along its borders with Iraq Kuwait Kuwait
• Concerning the maritime borders between Kuwait and Iraq , the international convention and 1982 Law of sea agreement signed by Iraq
• Iraq recorded its recognition by the median line in the map that has the official stamp of the Iraqi Petroleum Ministry, Republic of Iraq prepared by Norwegian hydrographer Captain Coucheron-Aamout in 1959 for Iraq 168 in the proceedings of the International Court of Justice, sea and continental shelf.
• The UN Commission for Boundary Demarcation between Kuwait and Iraq has highly ensured water routes in Khor az-Zubair inlet for the benefit ofIraq Kuwait has been practically deprived of khor az-Zubair inlet and Iraq Kuwait
• Thus the documents prove that Iraq
Conclusion
In conclusion it can be said that Kuwait Kuwait and Iraq Iraq from the Arabian Peninsula represented these borders. Kuwait had always been inside the Arabian Peninsula circle. This has been shown in a number of maps and charts that emerged in the nineteenth century in which Kuwait
Therefore, these maps recorded by cartographers in many countries and during different respective periods of time indicated Kuwaiti borders as a reality, which were known for more than three centuries. They help every fact finder to give judgement supported by academic proofs free from fallacy. Those cartographers were never bias or prejudiced. They were neutral working for the sake of work and recording the status quo. They stated reality they witnessed. Their neutral works refute allegations, arguments and illusions of hegemony.
Let’s objectively look and compare between Kuwait ’s borders as mentioned in these maps and the resolutions attained by the United Nations Commission for Demarcating the Borders between Kuwait andIraq
The historic geography of any region all over the world depends on the locations and different landmarks which form its general features. The names of these landmarks reveal the historic conditions and roots of this region. These names might indicate kinds of plants, rocks persons or tribes that were linked to that place or the events that passed by.
The names of some places in the Arabian Peninsula , Kuwait a part of it- to many changes notably in the modern age; some of names that were known to the old generations disappeared and were substituted by new ones that are not correlated to today geography; some old known names which were linked to certain historic events are given to new locations further than their old locations in addition to the distortion that is given to geographic landmarks for generation to generation.
This publication records Kuwait Geneva
According to this documentary trend, this book comes to being, in which the author surveyed all names of locations, cities, villages, and different geographic landmarks names, and revealing their astronomical positions, historic importance depending on historic and oral resources , and detailed maps; the author also linked between those locations and governorates , in addition to a comprehensive index and explanatory maps.
This work is a scholarly study, based on extensive legal experience, and on data collected from the juridical records and information gathered from past records. The author , who is aware of such research, issued his first book "Kazima in Literature and History" published in Cairo
· Awarah …. A Glimpse of Kuwait History , Kuwait
· Al-Adan Between Kuwait and Its Desert, Kuwait
· Sidan: a Glimpse of Kuwait
· Views and Locations Of Kuwait
Those are documentary studies of historiography of Kuwait
CRSK thanks the author for the efforts he exerted in this book
Locations according to Governorates
- Al-Asima
- Hawalli
- Farwaniyah
- Ahmadi
- Jahra
- Mubarak al-Kabeer
- Islands
- Old and Modern Kuwait Landmarks
_____________________________
- _____________________________________
Sheikh Abd-Allah Al-Salem Al-Sabah
Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah
Sheikh Jabir Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah
sources :
يعود الوجود الحضري في منطقة الكويت إلى أكثر من أربعة آلاف سنة كما تشير بقايا الآثار الحضارية التي عثر عليها في المنطقة- ويرجع ذلك إلى موقع الكويت الفريد الذي جعلها حلقة وصل برية وبحرية بين أجزاء العالم القديم- ومركز تجمع وتوزيع لحضارات مختلفة- وموقعا استراتيجيا مهما يتحكم في الممر إلى تلك الحضارات والأسواق- فقد كانت كاظمة (وهو أحد الأسماء القديمة للمنطقة) محطة للقوافل القادمة من بلاد فارس وما بين النهرين إلى شرقي الجزيرة وداخلها- وكانت ـ ولمدة طويلة ـ الرابط التجاري بين عالم المحيط الهندي وبلاد الشام وأوروبا- فعندها نقطة التقاء أحد أطول طرق التجارة في العالم القديم وأهمها. كما كانت فيلكا بما تحتويه من آبار ومياه عذبة محطة للسفن التجارية التي تصل بين المواني الواقعة عند رأس الخليج وبقية الأجزاء الجنوبية منه في طريقها إلى عُمان والهند وشرقي إفريقيا.
وتقع دولة الكويت في الطرف الشمالي الشرقي من شبه الجزيرة العربية- يحدها شرقا الخليج العربي- وشمالا العراق- ومن الجهتين الغربية والجنوبية المملكة العربية السعودية. وتبلغ مساحة الكويت نحو 17.818 ألف كيلومتر مربع وعدد سكانها نحو403و213و2 مليون نسمة بينهم 774و880 ألف مواطن والباقي من جنسيات عربية وغير عربية وذلك حسب احصاء عام 2005م. ويتكون سطح الكويت من سهول رملية منبسطة- وتلال قليلة متفرقة- غير أن أبرز مظهر طبيعي يتمثل في وادي الباطن الواقع في الشمال الغربي من البلاد والذي يمثل وسطه الحدود الكويتية العراقية.
وللكويت عدد من الجزر أكبرها جزيرة بوبيان وإلى شمالها جزيرة وربة- وفي مدخل جون الكويت تقعجزيرة فيلكا ذات الشهرة التاريخية- وبجوارها تقع جزيرتا مسكان وعوهة. وهناك جزر صغيرة أخرى عند الساحل الجنوبي للبلاد هي «كبر» و«قاروه» و«أم المرادم».
وقد عُرفت هذه المنطقة أولا باسم (كاظمة) إلى أوائل القرن السابع عشر- وكان ميناؤها الذي يحمل الاسم نفسه يقع في الجزء الشمالي الغربي من جون الكويت.ثم انتقل المركز الحضري المذكور إلى جنوب الجون حيث عُرف باسم القرين ثم الكويت.
وتشير الوثائق والدلالات التاريخية إلى أن نشأة مدينة الكويت كانت عام 1613م- حينما بدأ توافد مجموعة الأسر والقبائل إلى هذه المنطقة مهاجرين من نجد مدركين ببصيرة ثاقبة أهمية هذا الموقع ومميزاته المكانية.
وقد تحولت القبائل التي نزلت بمنطقة الكويت إلى مجتمع حضري- له كيان سياسي واضح يتميز بالاستقرار والازدهار-يشهد له الرحالون الذين زاروا المنطقة- ومنهم مرتضى بن علوان في عام 1709م- كما تشير وثائق الأرشيف البريطاني إلى أن الحكم كان لآل صباح في عام 1716م وهو أمر يشير إلى أن ظهور هذا المجتمع يمتد لفترة سابقة. استقر فيها المجتمع الكويتي- وانطلقت نشاطاته في البر والبحر- وبدت الحاجة ملحة إلى قيادة يرجع إليها الناس في أمورهم- وتمتلك الشرعية والقدرة على تأمين وحماية مجتمعهم ومصالحهم وتمثيلهم لدى الجهات والمجتمعات التي تحيط بهم- فعهدوا بالرئاسة إلى رجل فيهم من آل صباح رأوه متميزا بالخير وأقربهم إلى الحق- وغدا الحكم في هذه الأسرة يتوارثه الأرشد الأكبر منهم إلى هذا اليوم.
نشاطات الكويت الاقتصادية قبل النفط:
تميز النشاط الاقتصادي لهذا المجتمع في بواكيره ونشأته بالتنوع فجمع بين النشاط البري والنشاط البحري- وقد غاص أبناء هذا المجتمع في أعماق البحار بحثا عن اللآلئ- وجابوا البحار في سفن صنعوها بأيديهم- وقاموا بنقل البضائع والتجارة بين موانى الخليج وإفريقيا وساحل الهند ووصلوا إلى كولومبو والبنغال وجزر الهند الشرقية- وقد سجل المؤرخون وقباطنة البحارالأجانب إشادتهم بهذا النشاط البحري كما أشادوا بمتانة السفن الكويتية وكثرتها- فيذكر «كنبهاوزن» المقيم المسؤول لشركة الهند الشرقية الهولندية في عام 1756م أن الكويت في تلك الفترة المبكرة كانت تمتلك 300 سفينة يعمل عليها 4000 رجل في صيد اللؤلؤ بخلاف سفن صيد الأسماك وسفن التجارة- وأن الكويت قوة بحرية نامية. ويمكن أن ندرك المعدل المتسارع لهذا النمو مما ذكره الرحالة الألماني «كارستن نيبور Carsten Neibuhr بعد ثماني سنــــوات من ذلــك التاريــخ في حديــثه عن رحـلاته إلى الخليج وشبه الجزيرة العربية بين عامي 1764 و1765 حيث وصف ما حققته الكويت من ازدهار- وأن أبناءها أصبحوا يمتلكون أكثر من ثمانمائة سفينة. ويعرب «فاليارس» (1938) صاحب كتاب «أبناء السندباد» ويعني بهم الكويتيين- عن إعجابه بنشاط الكويت البحري- ويذكر: «أن واجهة الكويت البحرية من أبدع ما تقع عليه العين- وهي تمتد إلى مسافة ميلين- مكونة ورشة كبرى لصنع سفن النقل الشراعية- وتزدحم السفن على طول هذه الواجهة في حركة لا تهدأ- وعمل لا ينقطع ترداده» ويصف لنا مسلك البحارة الكويتيين على السفينة ذاكرا: «أنهم يرونها وطنا رغم قسوة العمل وخشونته- ويتسابقون إلى إنجاز أشق الأعمال ركضا في طاعة ورضا ومحبة ليل نهار- وهو نهج لم أره على أي سفينة أخرى إلا في مسلك بحارة الكويت. يقطعون عشرة آلاف ميل بسفنهم وسط العديد من المخاطر دون جلبة أو تذمر- إنهم بحارة إلى النخاع ورجال لا يعرفون الزيف».
ورغم السلطة المطلقة غير المحدودة التي تمنحها التقاليد البحرية للنوخذة (القبطان)- فإن روايات التاريخ وشهادات البحارة تطلعنا على أن النوخذة الكويتي بعامة- كان مثلا في التمسك بالعدل والأمانة- لا يفرط في فلس واحد من حق البحارة أو السفينة أو التاجر الذي ائتمنه عليها- وكان يتعامل مع البحارة بروح الأب الوالد ويعطي القدوة من نفسه- فانعكس ذلك على مجتمع السفينة بهجة تتردد فيها الأغاني التي يصدح بها البحارة- وتعاونا صادقا وبذلا لا حدود له- ونجاحا للرحلة وعائداتها.
وكان الشق الآخر من نشاط مجتمع الكويت في بواكير نشأته يتمثل في النشاط البري الذي سارت به القوافل الضخمة بما تحمله من تجارة ومسافرين إلى دمشق وحلب في الشمال- وكانت القافلة تضم كما ذكر لنا الطبيب الإنجليزي «إدوارد إيفز» عام 1758م في تقريره ـ حيث كان يزمع السفر مع إحدى هذه القوافل ـ خمسة آلاف جمل وألف رجل يقودونها- الأمر الذي يوضح حجم هذا النشاط التجاري البري- كما يوضح مقدار النفوذ السياسي الذي يحظى به حاكم الكويت في داخل الجزيرة العربية وقدرته على تأمين الطريق لتلك القافلة الكبيرة لتصل إلى هدفها النهائي.
وقد كان لهذه الأنشطة الاقتصادية في البر والبحر قبل ظهور النفط آثارها العميقة التي انعكست على مجتمع الكويت في مختلف جوانبه- وصاغت توجهه في رحلة بنائه- فقد أصبح التلاحم والتكافل والتعاون والعمل المشترك واحترام الكلمة والوفاء بها منهجا للحياة- وعلمتهم الشدائد أن الشورى هي الضمان والأساس لوحدة المجتمع وانطلاقه- وأتاحت لهم الرحلات في البر والبحر انفتاحا على مجتمعات وأفكار جديدة ومختلفة- فاكتسبوا مرونة وتفتحا ذهنيا واستعدادا لتقبل كل جديد مفيد-وأصبحوا أكثر قدرة على مواجهة الظروف الطارئة- وتعلموا من المشكلات والمخاطرأن يكونوا واقعيين في معالجة أمورهم وممارسة أعمالهم- فقلَّ بينهم التعصب والتحزب- واتسم مسلكهم الديني باليسر والسماحة.
الكويت في مواجهة صراع القوى العالمية في الخليج:
وقد واجه مجتمع الكويت في نشأته وعلى مدى تاريخه الذي ينوف على ثلاثة قرون أطماعا وصراعا لقوى كبرى نتيجة لنشاطاته النامية وازدهاره وظهوره كقوة مؤثرة في محيطه- ولموقعه الاستراتيجي في الخليج العربي الذي أصبح في هذه الفترة جاذبا للأطماع- وبالتالي مثيرا للصراعات بين القوى الراغبة في السيطرة على خطوط المواصلات العالمية التي تمثل الكويت حلقة وصل كبرى بين أجزائها.
وقد نجحت الكويت في الحفاظ على طابعها ووجودها كيانا حضاريا متميزا ذا طبيعة مدنية بحكم الدور التجاري البحري لأبنائه- بينما غلب على الكيانات السياسية المجاورة نمط اجتماعي واقتصادي مختلف تراوح بين النمط الإقطاعي والنمط البدوي الذي لم ينتقل إلى مرحلة المجتمع المستقر.
وقد واجه هذا الكيان الاقتصادي المتميز الذي تمثله الكويت قوى برية كبرى محيطة به كالدولة العثمانية في الشمال الغربي- وقوى بحرية كبرى موجودة في الخليج: البرتغاليون فالهولنديون ثم البريطانيون- كما كان للألمان والروس مصالحهم الخاصة فيه. وقد فرض ذلك على الكويت توجها التزم به حكامها وشعبها- وهو اتباع سياسة من التوازن تؤدي إلى الحفاظ على استقلالها وتجنب محاولات الدخول في نطاقات التبعية والهيمنة مع أي من القوى الكبرى- ويفسر لنا ذلك كثيرا من جوانب العلاقات الكويتية سواء مع الدولة العثمانية أومع سواها.
علاقة الكويت بالدولة العثمانية:
وقد قاومت الكويت كل محاولات الاحتواء وفرض التبعية من جانب الدولة العثمانية التي هيمنت على معظم المشرق العربي- وإن حرصت على دعم واستمرار العلاقة الإسلامية العامة لدولة الخلافة- وهي علاقة دينية لا تمس مصالح الكويت ولا استقلالها- ولا يترتب عليها لولاة الدولة العثمانية في العراق أي حقوق سياسية في الكويت. فلم تقدم الكويت أي نوع من الولاء للولاة العثمانيين في البصرة أو غيرها- واعتمدت على نفسها في صد هجمات القبائل عليها- ولم تقبل تسليم من لجؤوا إليها من الثائرين على الدولة العثمانية- ورحبت الكويت برغبة الوكالة البريطانية التابعة لشركة الهند الشرقية البريطانية في الانتقال إليها بعد خلافها مع السلطة العثمانية في البصرة- وبقيت في الكويت من عام 1793م إلى 1795م- ورفضت أن يمر خط برلين الحديدي بأرضها رغم ضغط الألمان- ورغم المباركة والمشاركة العثمانية لإقامته- ولم تقبل ـ وهذه دلالة حاسمة على استقلالها ـ أي ولاية عثمانية على سياستها الخارجية- فعقدت المعاهدات التي تحقق مصالحها كمعاهدة 1899 م مع بريطانيا. وظل الحكم منذ نشأة الكويت وعلى استمرار تاريخها في أسرة الصباح التي اختارها أهل الكويت دون تدخل أو ولاية من أي جهة خارجية- فظل القرار الكويتي مستقلا ينطلق من الرؤية الوطنية ومصالحها.
حدود الكويت مع جيرانها:
وإذا تساءلنا عن صورة حدود الكويت مع جيرانها منذ أن تميز كيانها الحضري والسياسي واستقر في القرن السابع عشر فإننا نجد الجواب شديد الوضوح في الأعمال الكارتوجرافية التي نشرت عن الجزيرة العربية ومنطقة الكويت- والتي رسمها علماء مشهورون ينتمون إلى بلدان مختلفة خلال تلك القرون الثلاثة- وهي أعمال تاريخية نشرت قبل أن يثار أي ادعاء أو نزاع حول حدود الكويت- ومن هذه الخرائط خريطة الأخوين «أوتنز»التي تعود إلى أوائل القرن الثامن عشر- ثم خريطة «كارل ريتر» العالم الجغرافي الألماني الشهير والتي أعدها عام 1818م- وخريطة «بالجريف» الرحالة الإنجليزي 1862م. وتظهر حدود الكويت مع جيرانها وبخاصة الحدود الشمالية في هذه الخرائط على نحو مستقر ومتكرر يكاد يكون متطابقا ويزداد وضوحا ودقة مع تطور وارتقاء الأعمال الكارتوجرافية في القرن التاسع عشر. وتماثل خطوط الحدود التي نشاهدها في هذه الخرائط إلى حد كبير الوضع الحالي لحدود الكويت التي وردت في الاتفاقيات التي وقعتها العراق .
وفي بداية القرن العشرين حينما أخذت الدول العربية في الاستقلال حرصت الدول الجديدة على إعلان حدودها مع جيرانها- ومن بين هذة الدول «العراق» التي تبادلت المذكرات حول ذلك مع الكويت- وأسفر ذلك عن اعتراف تفصيلي متبادل بشأن الحدود في عام 1932م- وقد جرى تأكيد هذا التحديد والوصف للحدود الكويتية العراقية في اتفاقية لاحقة تمت بين الكويت والعراق في عام 1963م.
وهذه الحدود التي اعترفت بها العراق مرتين قبل العدوان العراقي على الكويت عام 1990م هي الحدود ذاتها التي انتهت إليها اللجنة الدولية لترسيم الحدود بين الكويت والعراق التي شكلتها هيئة الأمم المتحدة بعد تحرير الكويت من العدوان العراقي- واعتمد تقريرها النهائي مجلس الأمن الدولي في قراره 833 في مايو 1993م- وهي الحدود نفسها التي اعترفت بها العراق أخيرا للمرة الثالثة في شهر نوفمبر 1994م.
ولم تضف هذه الحدود أرضاً جديدة للكويت على حساب العراق- بل رسمت الحقائق المستقرة على أرض الواقع- وأتاحت للعراق الوصول إلى موانيه الستة بحرية كاملة- ومن خلال واجهة بحرية وممرات مائية متصلة تزيد على 300 كيلومتر- ومنحت العراق في سفوان وخور الزبير أكثر مما طالب به.
الشورى والديمقراطية أساس نظام الحكم في الكويت:
اتسمت العلاقة بين الشعب الكويتي وحكامه على مر التاريخ بطبيعة خاصة لاحظ المؤرخون المحليون والأجانب تميزها واختلافها عن الكيانات المحيطة بها فصباح الأول بن جابر المتوفى سنة 1743م ـ كما يذكر المؤرخ سيف الشملان ـ «كان يشاور أهل الكويت في المهم من الأمور ولا يقطع أمرا دون استشارتهم»- والحاكم الثاني عبدالله بن صباح بن جابر (1743 ـ 1813م) وصفه المؤرخ الشيخ يوسف بن عيسى بأنه «كان رجلا حازما- قريبا من الحق- محبا للعدالة- حسن السياسة- لا يبت في أمر إلا بعد مشاورة جماعته- ولا يخالفهم فيما يرونه صوابا» ويصفه سير «هارفرد جونز» (1793م) بأنه «كان رجلا مهيبا قوي الشخصية يكن له أهل المدينة أبلغ مشاعر الإجلال فقد كان لهم بمثابة أب لا حاكم».
وكتب مدحت باشا ـ والي بغداد الذي زار الكويت 1872م ـ أن والي البصرة نامق باشا أراد إلحاق الكويت بالبصرة فأبى أهلها ذلك لأنهم تعودوا عدم الإذعان للتكاليف والخضوع للحكومات ثم يقول «وشيخها اليوم اسمه عبدالله الصباح وأهلها شافعية وهم يديرون أمورهم بحسب الشرع الشريف ومنهم حاكمهم وقاضيهم وهم شبه جمهورية».
وعندما زار المقيم الإنجليزي في الخليج «لويس بللي» الكويت عام 1865م وصف الحاكم الشيخ صباح بأنه «يدير الأمور بروح الأب تجاه أبنائه- لا يأنف أن ينزل على حكم القاضي إذا خالف ما يذهب إليه. ومهما يكن من أمر فإن فرض العقوبات على السكان كان أمرا نادر الحدوث- والواقع أنك لا تجد تدخلا حكوميا في أي أمر من أمور الناس- والحكومة لا تجد نفسها بحاجة إلى أن تتخذ مثل هذه المواقف من الأفراد». ويعزز هذه الإشارات التاريخية إلى طبيعة العلاقة الديمقراطية الخاصة بين الكويتيين وحكامهم ويوثقها ما ورد في تقارير الرحالين الذين زاروا الكويت والخرائط التي ظهرت فيها الكويت خلال تلك الفترات التاريخية- فقد حرص بعض الجغرافيين على أن يسجلوا هذه العلاقة المتميزة التي أدركوها في خرائطهم فاستخدموا اسم «جمهورية الكويت» للدلالة على طبيعة النظام السياسي لهذا المجتمع - ونجد هذه التسمية في الخريطة التي رسمها العالم الألماني «كارل ريتر» للجزيرة العربية عام 1818م- كما أن هذه التسمية نفسها في خريطة العالم الإنجليزي الكسندر «جونستون» الذي يعد من أبرز الجغرافيين الإنجليز في النصف الأول من القرن التاسع عشر وذلك في الأطلس الكبير الذي صدر في أدنبره عام 1874م.
وقد تواصل هذا النهج من المحبة والمشاورة وتبادل الرأي والاحترام والثقة بين الحاكمين والمحكومين فقامت ــ في مراحل تالية ــ على أساسه الحياة الدستورية في مجتمع الكويت- فكانت الكويت هي السباقة في المنطقة منذ عام 1921م لإقامة مجلس شورى- وتواصلت الجهود منذ الاستقلال إلى اتخاذ الدستور والحياة البرلمانية منهجا- وتعزز ذلك في ممارسة هذا الإرث أسلوب حياة- فنجد الحاكم يشارك إخوانه المواطنين في مناسباتهم الاجتماعية المختلفة يزورهم في أفراحهم مهنئا- وفي أتراحهم معزيا- وهم يدخلون عليه في مجالسه في كل وقت صغيرهم وكبيرهم على طريقتهم الأولى منذ نشأة الكويت. وتظهر هذه الروح ـ روح التشاور وتبادل الرأي والالتقاء على قلب رجل واحد ـ في الملمات والشدائد- فتلتحم بها الأمة في صلابة وتماسك- وهو ما حدث في مواجهة العدوان العراقي- حيث أعلن الكويتيون الذين اجتمعوا في المؤتمر الشعبي (جدة- أكتوبر 1990م) خلال فترة العدوان العراقي أنهم لا يقبلون بغير الشرعية واستمرار النهج الذي اختاروه لحكمهم منذ نشأة الكويت بديلا- وقد أذهلت هذه الظاهرة الفريدة العالم حيث لم يجد المعتدي المحتل ـ ممن تصور أنهم معارضون ـ من يقبل بغير الشرعية- فانهارت كل حججه التي زيفها للعدوان)
وقد أثبت هذا الاختبار المصيري لنظام الشورى والديمقراطية في الكويت أصالته وعمق جذوره وقدرته ــ بما رسخ فيه من قيم وما اكتسبه من مرونة ــ على استيعاب التنوع والثقافات والآراء والمصالح في إطار من الوحدة والتكامل- وفي مناخ من الود والتسامح والشورى وسيادة القانون. وقد شجع مناخ الحرية واتساع قاعدة المشاركة المبادرات الشعبية التطوعية لبذل الجهود في مناحي التنمية الاجتماعية المختلفة- فقامت في مجتمع الكويت المحدود السكان خمس وخمسون جمعية نفع عام تقدم الخدمات التطوعية والمشورة في شتى نواحي الحياة في المجتمع.
وانطلقت فى رحاب هذه المشاركة جميع الطاقات لتحقيق التنمية الاجتماعية الشاملة- وارتفعت ثمرة لذلك كله القيمة النسبية للإنسان باعتباره محورا لهذه التنمية وهدفا نهائيا لها.
وقد تبلورت هذه الممارسات الديمقراطية التي قام عليها مجتمع الكويت في صيغة دستورية ديمقراطية حديثة تفصل بين السلطات الثلاث- وتضع الضوابط لضمان المشاركة الشعبية الواسعة في أمور الحكم والرقابة على السلطة التنفيذية- وضمان الحريات الأساسية للمواطنين وتحديد الأدوار والمهام بما يضمن التوازن بين هذه السلطات حين أتيحت لها الفرصة بعد إعلان استقلال الكويت عن الحماية البريطانية عام 1961م- وكان التنادي بذلك نابعا من الأمة والحاكم في وقت واحد- فبعد شهور قليلة من الاستقلال أمر الشيخ عبدالله السالم حاكم الكويت بتشكيل لجنة شعبية لوضع مسودة دستور حديث للكويت المستقل- وبعد تشكيل اللجنة بشهرين بدأت الانتخابات العامة لاختيار أعضاء مجلس الأمة الأول في البلاد- وأعيد تنظيم الإدارات الحكومية لتتمكن من تنفيذ حركة التنمية الشاملة وخططها- وتم اختيار أغلب أعضاء الوزارة من الأعضاء المنتخبين لمجلس الأمة الذي يتكون من خمسين عضوا- والذي يملك بموجب الدستور كافة صلاحيات رسم السياسات والتشريع والرقابة على السلطة التنفيذية. وازدهرت الصحافة لتصل إلى (5) صحف يومية تمثل كافة الاتجاهات بالإضافة إلى صحيفتين تصدران بالإنجليزية و(61) مجلة سياسية وثقافية ومتخصصة.
وقد تآزرت هذه العوامل جميعها: النشأة والجذور- والتحديات والصمود- وثبات الحكم واستقراره وانفتاحه على قيام صيغة من الممارسة الديمقراطية نابعة من تجربة هذا الوطن لا تقوم على التحزب وشهوة الحكم والانغلاق داخل توجه الحزب- بل تتنوع فيها الآراء والتوجهات- وتمارس في إطارها بانطلاق حريات التعبير- وكان التوجه والاختيار فيها نابعا من الاقتناع الذاتي بما يخدم مصلحة الوطن- ويتفق والقيم الأساسية لمجتمع الكويت دون أن يتجاوز الخلاف حاجز المحبة والتعاون- أو يقيم تعصبا لا يقبل الحوار أو يحول دون تغيير التوجه إذا تبين دليل جديد مما يفتح القنوات ويقيم الجسور بين مختلف التوجهات للتعاون والعمل المشترك.
وقد سجل الباحثون في العلوم السياسية المتابعون لتجربة الكويت الديمقراطية أمثال Crystal (1981) وHudson (1979) وBoz (1982) وIsmail (1986) في كتاباتهم رؤيتهم لهذه التجربة- واتفقت كتاباتهم على «أن مجلس الأمة في الكويت قد نجح إلى حد كبير في تحمل مسؤوليته الاجتماعية- وأظهر مقدرة فذة في العمل كمؤسسة تشريعية حقيقية أفرزت للمجتمع الكويتي غالبية المؤسسات والآليات السياسية التي لعبت الدور الرئيسي في رحلة التطور التي شهدتها الكويت».
آل الصباح: حكام الكويت
ينتمي آل الصباح حكام الكويت إلى قبيلة عنزة العربية وترجع أصولها إلى الهدار بمنطقة الأفلاج من إقليم نجد. وهي من أكبر قبائل العرب وأشهرها- وتنقسم عنزة إلى أفخاذ عديدة منها جَميِلَة التي تنقسم إلى فروع منها آل الصباح.
وقد هاجر آل الصباح وأبناء عمومتهم آل خليفة وكذلك الجلاهمة على دفعات مرتحلين شمالا بحثا عن ظروف أكثر ملاءمة لمعيشتهم فنزلوا بعدد من بلدان الخليج بعد تجوال دام فترة فيها يقدرها البعض بخمسين عاما قبل أن يستقروا نهائيا في الكويت.
ويرجع البعض هذه الهجرة إلى موجة القحط الكبير الذي ألم بالجزيرة العربية في القرن السابع عشر الميلادي- ويرجعه آخرون إلى خلافات نشبت بين عشائر هذه القبائل وإن كان المعروف أن هجرة القبائل والعشائر إلى مواطن أخرى كان سمة من سمات الحياة القبلية في المجتمعات الصحراوية عبر مختلف العصور .
وقد أطلق على هذه المجموعات المهاجرة وهي من قبائل مختلفة اسم العتوب- وأشار البعض إليهم باسم بني عتبة أو العتوبيين- ولكن الأرجح الذي تشير إليه أغلب المصادر أن لفظة العتوب مشتقة من الفعل الثلاثي عتب بمعنى انتقل وارتحل وغير مكانه ومن ثم فالعتوب ليست اسما لفخذ من قبيلة عنزة. واشتقاق أسماء القبائل من الأفعال وارد في منطقة شبه الجزيرة العربية فقبائل الظفير مجموعة قبائل تضافرت واتحدت- وعرب المنتفق عشائر اتحدت وعرفت بالمنتفق .
ونتيجة لتواصل استقرار المجتمع الجديد الذي نزله العتوب- وانطلاق نشاطاته في البر والبحر بدت الحاجة ملحة إلى وجود قيادة يرجع الناس إليها في أمورهم وتمتلك الشرعية والقدرة على حماية مصالحهم- والتعامل مع الجهات والمجتمعات المحيطة بهم فقامت تلك الأسر المهاجرة في الكويت بانتخاب رجل منهم من آل الصباح رأوه « أمثلهم عقلا- وأحسنهم سيرة ونباهة وأقربهم لاتباع الحق- حازم- محب للعدالة» فعهدوا إليه بالرئاسة ولكنه لم يقبل إلا بعد أن أخذ عليهم نفاذ حكمه على الشريف والوضيع وأخذ الحكم طابع الشورى فقد كان «شيخ الكويت يستشير قومه في كل ما يخص بلدته».
وبهذا الاختيار أصبح الحكم في الكويت منذ ذلك الحين وحتى يومنا هذا مستمرا في أسرة الصباح يتوارثه الأرشد الأكبر منهم.
وتختلف المصادر التاريخية حول تحديد تاريخ بداية حكم آل الصباح نتيجة لاختلافها حول تاريخ محدد لهجرة العتوب والفترة التي تجولوا فيها بالخليج والفترة التي انقضت بين نزولهم أرض الكويت واختيارهم آل الصباح حكاما.
ولكن وثائق الأرشيف البريطاني تشير إلى أن الحكم كان لآل الصباح عام 1716م(1) وهي عبارة لاتنكر أن هذا الحكم كان واقعا لفترة سابقة مما جعل دراسات حديثة تتبنى عام 1613م بداية حكم آل الصباح مستندة إلى مجموعة من المؤشرات والوثائق في كتابات المؤرخين مما ورد عن أن تأسيس الكويت كان عام 1613م- ومنها رسالة الشيخ مبارك الصباح التي تقرر أن أجداده نزلوا الكويت عام 1022هـ الموافق 1613م- وما أورده الكولونيل لويس بيلي في تقريره عام 1863م من أن آل الصباح حكموا الكويت من 250 سنة أي عام 1613م- وما تشير إليه مراجعة وثائق بعض المساجد في الكويت وتواريخ تعيين قضاتها.
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