Saudi Arabia (Case Study) — 04/05

Key Funder of Wahhabi and Salafi doctine

Saudi Arabia

Wahhabi and Salafi doctrine

Focus on original texts and examples of early leaders

Violent form of Islam

The Ikthwan

Wahhabist warriors intent on purifying heresy

Historically exported, especially in Afghanistan

The cycle b/w Saudi Arabia and Wahhabism/Jihadists

Saudis are detested by Jihadists but stay in power because of their support for Wahhabism/Salafism which creates the very Jihadists who hate them

Saudi Arabia involvement in Islam establishment

• Build thousands of mosques and madrasses

  • Over 10,000 in Afghanistan

• University Islamic Centers (E.g. University of Brisbane)

• Approx. $2-3 billion a year

  • Approx. 90% of global Islamic publications are financed by Saudi and other Wahhabi/Salafi groups

  • Aim is to “Wahhabise” Islam

Rise in extremism in more liberal Islamic states is often tied to…

Wahhabism

Gender in Saudi Arabia

Women are not treated as equal members of society

• Only allowed to drive cars in 2018

• Use of public facilities is restricted when men are present

• 2019 Women given right to travel abroad, file divorce, apply for marriage w/o guardian approval

• Women cannot pass citizenship to their children or foreign-born husbands

• Women seeking access to the courts must be represented by a male

• According to interpretations of Sharia in Saudi Arabia, daughters generally receive half the inheritance awarded to their brothers and the testimony of one man is equal to that of 2 Muslims

• Several leading women activists arrested prior to 2018/19 law changes

King Abdullah University for Science and Technology, September 2009

• Bin-Salman gender-desegregates classrooms

• Religious police forbidden to enter the campus

• Bin Salman seems to want to empower Saudi women, recognizing their capabilities and desire to work

In House of Saud, the throne’s inheritance line…

Must to to brothers before it goes to sons

Order of House of Saud rulers:

1. Abdulaziz bin Saud (1923-53)

2. Abdullah (2005 - 2015) (Brother)

3. Salman (New King 2015) (Brother)

4. Mohammed bin Salman (Son)

King Salman (2015)

• More conservative than brother

• Appointed as Defense Minister (More aggressive FP)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman

• Probable future King, jumping line of succession

• Has one wife (culturally different)

• Very good PR, intelligence, resourceful

• Apparently approved killing of Khashoggi

• Uses new position as crown prince to fight corruption, with some princes being forced to pay fines of over $1b

  • Anti-corruption or key weakening of possible challengers to the throne

Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s

“Saudi Vision 2030”

• Creating a more efficient Saudi Arabia less dependent on oil wealth

• Promote accountability and transparency in government

  • $107b recovered in 2017 anti-corruption arrests

• Turn Aramco into multinational giant (valued $1.3-1.5t)

• Massive direct investment to build largest sovereign investment fund in the world (Approx. $700b, 3rd largest)

• Utilize geographic position to faster trade

• Aims to increase non-oil revenue x7

• Utilize status as most holy-land

• Develop domestic arms manufacturing to produce 50% of arms needed

• Neom-flag ship city of 10,200 sq. mile

• Massive green energy projects to power entire state

Emerging Power contest w/ Iran

Yemen and Syria as proxy wars

Beheading of Nimr al-Nimr (Head shiite cleric) for little reason

King Salman

Prince Bin-Salman

Nimr Al-Nimr

Saudi Arabia role in Yemen

Leading efforts against Houthis in Yemen (Shiites)

Saudia Arabia and ISIS

Threatened land war against ISIS

Bombing ISIS

Saudi Arabia Military

• Militarily a major regional power

• 17th largest military in the world

• Approx. 500,000 active personnel

• Sophisticated weapons systems

  • 73% from U.S.

  • 13% from U.K.

  • Patriot defense system

  • Stealth cruise missiles

  • Drones

  • Guided small diameter bombs

    • Why we don’t want them befriending China + Iran

Saudi Arabia spendings on military

Spends 8% GDP on military (HIGHEST IN THE WORLD comparison to 2.2% average)

Saudi Arabia military spendings with the U.S.

• Increased U.S. arms sale from $3b to $10b/year by 2015

• 2017 President Trump sign deal with al-Saud for $350b over 10 years

• 2021 President Biden paused arms transfer then renewed

• Senate attempt to block by Paul and Sanders fail

HDI and GDI in Saudi Arabia

HDI — 40th in the world

GDI — bottom 3rd

Saudi Arabia Freedom House Scores

Nothing above ¼

Why the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have a strange friendship

• Private sponsor of terror

• Public sponsor of Wahhabism

• Anti-Israel

• Competing energy giant

• $10b in arms sales

  • Patriot missiles

  • F-35s sale now questionable

• U.S. historically not understand Wahhabism Islamic motivation

  • See a modern, rich, well led state

Iran in Yemen

Sponsoring the Houthis