THE POLITICS OF PARTICIPATION IN THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL STATES - THE OMANI-CONSULTATIVE-COUNCIL

The creation of the Omani Consultative Council (OCC), in 1991, was an attempt by Sultan Qabus bin-Sa'id to address the issue of political pa rticipation in Oman. The structure and organization of the OCC was des igned to include elements of the traditional majlis al-shura (consulta tive council), local Ibadhi traditions of participation, and Western c oncepts of political representation. Although the changed political en vironment in the region since the Gulf War necessitated some liberaliz ation of the political system, the Sultan's traditional power base lim ited the extent of this liberalization.