Legitimising the Coup (1970–1976)

The Sultanate’s first international image that emerged in the post-WWII system was that of a colonial regime in opposition to an Omani national movement that was supported by the Arab world. At home, before the coup of July 1970, Qaboos had never visited Muscat and was not known by the Omani population. The aim of this chapter is to look at how ‘identity contents’ and ‘discursive strategies’ supported the quest for regime legitimation during the first years of Sultan Qaboos’ reign, in the context of civil war and after the British-led coup d’état, from 1970 to 1976. It mainly focuses on the domestic speeches, but space is also given to how these themes were framed at the UN, especially regarding Dhofar, so as to trace whether there were differences in form and content based on the audience of reference.