Rentier State Theory 50 years on: new developments

Abstract

As Rentier State Theory (RST) has recently passed the half-century mark, it is clear that rentier states have changed dramatically during that time. The article discusses three recent developments in RST scholarship in recent years. First, the theory has evolved a great deal in order to survive. Second, scholars have incorporated a greater degree of dynamism into state behavior. Finally, there have been attempts to explain how and when RST may cease to exist in its current form.