| Sumario: | On June 1, 1998, Kuwait's crown prince and prime minister, Sheikh Saad Al-Sabah, pledged to push through long-awaited reforms, but Kuwaitis have heard such promises before. In 1991, after the ejection of the Iraqi occupying force, Kuwait's princely rulers reluctantly succumbed to U.S. pressure to turn over a new leaf by restoring democracy, liberalizing the economy, and keeping the number of migrant laborers below that of Kuwaitis. However, seven years on, the limited democracy introduced after the Persian Gulf War is being threatened by petty squabbling, economic reform only exists on paper, and foreigners constitute two-thirds of the population. If it is to cope with falling oil revenues and an increasing welfare bill, Kuwait requires a more radical shake-up.
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