Conclusions

Abstract

The rentier-state approach has been used to study regime type in oil exporting countries in the Middle East and Africa. Since rentier-states do not need to tax their own population — says rentier-state theory — they do not need to give them political participation. To guarantee stability these states share out oil rents among key actors and in some cases can even partially open the political system to participation. However, in essence rentier-states tend to authoritarianism.