Media Policy and Cultural Policy in Sultanate of Oman: 2000 – 2020

Alnuumani, Shamisa Abdallah (2025) Media Policy and Cultural Policy in Sultanate of Oman: 2000 – 2020. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

The Sultanate of Oman is one of the most historically established countries in the Arabian Peninsula, with an absolute monarchic political system. The ascension of Sultan Qaboos in 1970 marked the beginning of what has been termed the ‘modern Omani Renaissance.’ Since then, the state has developed its media and cultural sectors, institutionalising them through ministerial bodies, sustained media and cultural production, and the establishment of legal frameworks. However, while the existing regulatory framework is well-established, there is a striking absence of written media policy and cultural policy.

This PhD research applies a historical institutionalism framework to explore the sources, actors, and forms of change influencing policy paths in Oman from 2000 to 2020. It provides answers to two research questions: 1- What are the sources of media policy and cultural policy in the Sultanate of Oman from 2000 to 2020? 2- How have media policy and cultural policy in the Sultanate of Oman changed and developed between 2000 and 2020?

A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating historical methods, document analysis, elite semi-structured interviews, a comparative approach, and thematic analysis. I conducted 28 interviews with key figures in Oman’s media and cultural sectors: officials in government and non-government institutions, decision-makers, journalists, and intellectuals. Additionally, I analysed a range of related documents, such as laws and regulations.

This PhD research makes several pivotal contributions to the study of policy evolution in non-democratic contexts. First, it rigorously extends the analytical reach of historical institutionalism—traditionally applied to Western parliamentary systems—into the realm of an absolute monarchy, demonstrating the framework’s versatility beyond its usual origins. Second, by integrating unwritten institutions into the lens of historical institutionalism, the thesis illuminates how unwritten institutions, such as oral directives, can be as determinative in shaping policy outcomes. Third, the thesis delineates two distinct policy trajectories, precautionary media regulation versus interactive cultural development, thereby revealing a sectoral divergence that existing studies have largely overlooked. Finally, it identifies the previously underexplored role of middle management as a factor of bureaucratic inertia, showing how cautious officials perpetuate status-quo bias.

This PhD research finds that media policy was dominated by a reactive blend of formal statutes and unwritten discretionary directives. On the other hand, cultural policy progressed along a structured, law-driven path, guided by ministerial regulations, UNESCO partnerships and stakeholder input. Both arenas were framed by the Five-Year Development Plans and the Basic Statute of the State, thereby revealing a deliberate governance stance that tightly regulates public communication, while systematically nurturing cultural preservation.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Politics, Philosophy and Area Studies
Depositing User:	Chris White
Date Deposited:	04 Nov 2025 09:03
Last Modified:	04 Nov 2025 09:03
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/100881
DOI:

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