Anyone looking at Kuwait today sees a country that is cautiously – but with notable consistency – moving beyond the narrow confines of its geographic and historical setting. Wedged between Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, the emirate appears at first glance to be a small state whose strategic relevance is overshadowed by its more powerful neighbors. Yet that impression is misleading. In reality, Kuwait possesses a combination of political, economic, and societal resources that if used wisely can elevate it