Saudi Arabia (Case Study) — 04/03

Saudi Arabia’s government is a…

Monarchy

(They are a fairly new country and relatively uncomplicated)

Saudi Arabia geography significance

• Crossroads of civilizations

• Strategic trade location

• Iran as potential threat to Gulf

• Yemen threat to Red Sea

• Home to Mecca and Medina

Benefits of Mecca and Medina for Saudi Arabia (aside from religious)

Lots of income from tourism, which is key to their economy

Saudi Arabia Islam is:

Sunni

Some Shiites in East and on the border with Yemen

Countries that have a historically negative relationship with Saudi Arabia

Iran, Iraq, Syria

Also, currently engaged militarily in Yemen

Which two people started Saudi Arabia?

1. Muhammed ibn Saud

2. Muhammed ibn al-Wahab

Saudi Arabia Origin story (and state ending)

1. Saud and al-Wahab establish first quasi-Saudi state under Ottoman Empire

2. Al-Wahab provides spiritual legitimacy to Saud

3. Saud’s heir marries al-Wahab’s daughter (marriage bond b/w two)

4. Saud State grows around Riyadh — agricultural and trading community

5. Crushed by Ottomans Egyptian Viceroy in 1818 and state dies

Following the crush of their initial state, the Sauds…

1. Contest Arabian peninsual with Al-Rashid tribe

2. Lost contest, and are exiled to Kuwait in 1891

3. Saud’s return in 1902 and recapture Riyadh (former base)

4. External interference enabled them to defeat other tribes

Sharif of Mecca

Pre-eminent amongst many tribes

Dominant figure in control

Abd Al-Aziz Al Saud

Abd Al-Aziz Al Saud

Had British support which was crucial to the dominance of the House of Saud. Had external interference.

Sauds Vs. Wahhabi difference

Saud is a huge family/tribe

Wahhabis are also a tribe but are a religious sect

Ikhwan role in Saud dominance

Wahhabi inspired, provided spearhead of al-Aziz’s dominance of Arabia

They themselves are crushed by Saud/British forces in 1930

Saudia Arabia Freedom House Scores

Freedom House: 8/100

Political Rights Score: 1/40

Civil Liberties Score: 7/60

Status: Not Free

Scores: ¼ in 8 categories

Majles al-Shura

King’s Consultative Council (since no national parliament)

2005 Municipal Council Elections

Gave Saudi men opportunity to selec some of their leaders at the local level

• Women completely excluded

• Eligible electorate consisted of less than 20% of population

  • Male citizens who were at least 21

  • Not serving in military

  • Residents in district for >12 months

• ½ of council seats were open for election, and the other half were appointed by the monarchy

Common theme in Saudi bureaucracy

Primarily family and business networks (25,000 princes…)

Non-royal families hold key industrial monopolies

Saud social economic health

• Unemployment high

• Vast social inequalities

• But GREAT social welfare program

Saudi Welfare Program

• Almost free medical

• Financial relief for orphans, widows, disabled, work-place injuries, etc.

• Interest-free loans for home construction

Population make-up of Saudi Arabia

• Population of 34.8 million

• 93% Muslim

• 10-15% Shiite

Oil’s function and prominence in Saudi Arabia

• Largest known and accessible oil reserves in the world

• Sign first oil production deal with U.S. company

  • Which provides independence from U.K.

• 80% of state revenue

• 45% GDP

• 90% exports

Oil’s role in Saudi Arabia

• Maintains Saudi Arabia’s importance on world stage

• Contributes to stability of regime

• Cheapest oil to drill (can still make profit at under $30 a barrel)

• Oil a significant source of control for House of Saud

  • Use to try hurt Democrats before mid-term elections

Potential issue with Saudi Arabia’s oil dependence

Loss of income problematic of oil prices drop

Substantial foreign reserves enable flexibility

(E.g. Saudis lose $100b trying to prevent U.S shale industry)

Oil’s effect in Saudi Arabia’s position in OPEC

Strongest OPEC member

Saudi Arabia’s role in Islam

Land of 2 holy sites

Grand Mosque of Mecca

Prophet’s mosque of Medina

Why Saudi Arabia does not have a constitution

Because it would be basing man-made law above religious law

1992 Basic Law

Declares that the Koran and Sunna are the country’s constitution

Islam

• Islam = official religion and all Saudis are required by law to be Muslims

• Gov. prohibits public practice of any religion other than Islam and restricts religious practices of the Shiite and Sufi Muslim minority sects

U.S. invasion of Iraq 2003

Thousands Saudis went to Iraq in years following the U.S.

Led invasion in 2003 in what they saw as an anti-American and anti-Shiite jihad

Terrorist attacks in 2003 and 2004

• Internal dissension

• State killed dozens of suspects and detained thousands of others

• No shift in political power

• 2013 pass law forbidding citizens to fight for outside forces

Religious establishment in Saudi Arabia

• Very strong and loyal to state

• Increasingly criticized by some Saudis and extremist/orthodox Sunni Muslims

Islamic Conference 1969

Created organization as a consistent attempt to have anti-blasphemy laws at UN (to make criticism of Islam illegal)

al-Wahab

• Orthodox fundamentalist

• Inspired by ibn-Taymiyyah

• Hated grave worship and “idols” established in memory of ancestors

al-Wahab beliefs in laws and actions for Islam

• Banned prayers to saints, pilgrimages to “special”mosques/tombstones

• Those who would not pledge loyalty to Caliph should be killed, their female relatives violated and possessions confiscated

• All Sufis and Shiites considered apostate

al-Wahab’s idea for political system

One ruler/authority/mosque now —> Saudi King, Wahhabi Theology, Holy Word

Manifestations of Wahhabism

Isis

al-Nusra (Syria)

al-Qaeda

al-Nusra

Dominant Islamist force in Southern Syria until ISIS emerged