The Peninsula includes Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirate, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. Coup is a sudden seizure of power, usually by the military, in which the old government is replaced. In most cases, there is little loss of life during this transfer of authority. Economic growth is a broad term used to describe an improvement in the economic situation of a state. Common measures include increases in national wealth, increases in personal wealth, or improvements in the standard of living.
Legitimacy is the popular acceptance by the population of the leadership's right to rule.
Historical Terms Arab is an ethnic group that claims descent from Ismail, the Prophet Abraham's son by Hagar. Originally, this group was concentrated in the northern and central portions of the Arabian Peninsula. In modern times, an Arab is someone who speaks the Arabic language. Islam is a monotheistic religion that draws upon Judaism and Christianity. People who practice Islam are called Muslims.