Old and New Antagonisms after the Ceasefire, September 1988–July 1990

Abstract

The Kuwaiti public greeted the Iran-Iraq ceasefire in the summer of 1988, following the return of Faw to Iraq in the spring, with optimism on all fronts. Economically, Kuwaitis looked forward to higher oil revenues linked to new regional stability, and to restored trade with Iran and Iraq which would be invigorated by the countries’ reconstruction efforts.⁶³⁹ Politically, Kuwaitis believed that the end of the war, and the siege mentality that accompanied it at home, would spur the al-Sabah leadership to restore civil-political privileges such as parliamentary life, a freer press and a less strict, security-obsessed environment. Socially, Kuwaitis hoped that tensions between Sunni and Shiite citizens would be eased. In essence, Kuwaitis anticipated a return to “normalcy.”