The Governance Paradox: Modernization and Institutional Resilience in Rentier States

This study investigates the governance paradox confronting rentier states as they pursue modernization while preserving institutional resilience. Drawing on the policy arrangement approach, this study examines higher education governance in Qatar from 1971 to 2024 through mixed-methods analysis. Findings reveal an adaptive governance model that includes a state-orchestrated narrative reconciling cultural preservation with global demands, formalized intermediation within multi-stakeholder networks, and strategic resource management enhancing legitimacy. Adaptive bureaucratic rules further enable flexibility without compromising core values. This pathway challenges conventional rentier state and modernization theories, offering insights into how rentier states innovate governance to achieve developmental goals.