Studied by 0 people
Looks like no one added any tags here yet for you.
What are the origins of Saudi Arabia?
The emergence of the Saud dynasty dates back to 1744 when the local prince (emir) of the Nejd, the central highlands of the Arabian Peninsula, joined forced with Abd el Wahab.
Who was Abd el Wahab?
Wahab was a religious revivalist who called from a return to Islam. With the decline of Mecca as a commercial centre, tribal unity had come to an end and with disunity had came the semi-abandonment of Islamic practice. Wahab blamed the Ottomans - the alliance of the ‘warrior’ and the ‘preacher’ managed to get tribal loyalty and legitimacy
What happened once Wahab died?
It became much easier for the Saud dynasty to rule and easier to from the country since they weren’t fighting against a population or colonial power
Why was Saudi Arabia ‘easier’ to form?
It was easier to from the country since they weren’t fighting against a population or colonial power
When did Abdul Aziz launch a military campaign with the Ikhwan army?
1902
When was Aziz officially recognised as the King of the Hejaz?
1927
When was Saudi Arabia officially founded?
1932
How did Aziz manage to consolidate his power?
He managed to secure tribal support and military power. He dismantled the tribal leadership and developed a doctrine of Islam practice and he gave people material assistance to secure support.
He restored law and order in Mecca and protected the holy places. He built mosques and sent trained clerics to homogenize the diverse community. In this way he was able to obtain a sense of community loyalty that surpasses the tribal one.
How did Aziz secure his power in the Arab world?
He signed treaties with neighbouring states. In order to properly define Saudi Arabia’s boundaries. He entered negotiations with Iraq, Yemen and Jordan
He signed a treaty with Britain, as he realised that he’d need European support (treaty of Jeddah with Britain in 1927).
What was King Sa’ud rule like and how long did it last?
From 1953-64
He wasn’t a very competent ruler and was ill-equipped to deal with challenges
What were the two key challenges during Sa’ud’s rule?
Nasser’s appeal to secular Pan-Arabism and socialism - this posed a threat to the Islamic and monarchical foundations of Saud rule.
Domestic changes created by expansion of the petroleum industry and the wealth it generated threatened the conservative social and political order which was the basis of the RF’s support
Sa’ud open opposition to Nasser isolated Saudi Arabia and made it open to attacks from Nasser and his supporters. Sa’ud squandered millions - he was deposed in 1964
How did Aziz consolidate his power with the army?
He beat any extremists who wanted Islam beyond the Arab world
Who can rule Saudi Arabia?
Only the sons and grandsons of King Aziz
Who chooses the next monarchs?
Leading members of the royal family with the approval of the religious authorities (Ulema)
What is the constitution based on?
The Holy Qur’an and the legal system is Islamic law (sharia law).
Who enforces the behaviour of people in Saudi Arabia?
The religious police monitor public behaviour and enforce Islamic norms
Who runs the main sectors in Saudi Arabia?
The royal family
Who has absolute power in Saudi Arabia?
The King with a council of ministers (1953)
When was King Faysal’s rule?
1964-75
What happened under Faysal’s rule?
Huge modernisation programme - administration, education and armed forces. He sought to broaden the role of the govt in order to manage the economic development of the country and bring about far reaching social welfare programme.
What was Faysal’s social contract?
To staff a larger govt, more uni graduates were needed so new unis were set up and the govt encouraged people to get educated in the West and study
This new elite were angry at the lack of democracy so Faysal awarded them with high managerial officials so they would accept the lack of political representation
How did Saudi Arabia’s army grow?
The US helped them - the defence budget rose to $36 bn in 1976
When did Saudi Arabia become more powerful?
After Nasser died
What was the Arab Peninsula originally like?
Impoverished, sparsely populated and ruled with very few resources
When did the Arab peninsula become significant globally?
After oil was discovered
What was the impact of the oil wealth gained?
Began to generate enormous material wealth and social changes. It also allowed prevented changes in the existing political order. Rapid development coupled with political restrictions and the preservation of monarchical rule.
How did Saudi Arabia use financial aid?
They used it as a political tool of diplomacy and keep restless neighbours from acts of aggression.
Why was Saudi Arabia forced to still rely on the USA?
They were weaker militarily which placed them in the middle between the US and Arab states
What was the Arab Cold War?
The republic states (Syria and Egypt) moved closer to the USSR and the monarchies such as Saudi Arabia moved closer to the West creating tensions between states.
Nasser was very popular making him a threat to the monarchies. They became suspicious especially once the Great Powers got involved.
When did the Saudis get to control 50% of the oil profits?
In the 1950s
Why did Saudi Arabia join OPEC?
To have more negotiating powers against the West
How much oil did Saudi Arabia supply to Europe and globally?
Europe: 21%
Globally: 13%
What was the impact of the USA sending Israel $2.2 bn to Israel during the 1973 war?
OPEC states hit back by:
The oil embargo on all shipments to the USA and Netherlands
The Saudis and other Arab oil producers reduced production levels
What happened as a result to the oil embargo?
The prices of oil rose steeply as the West tried to access non-Arab oil
The political impact was shown by the EEC and Japan pressing for Palestinian rights
In 1972 SA gained $6.4 bn in oil revenues but in 1974-75 they earned £27 bn
How did Saudi Arabia manage to balance their relationship with the West and the Arab states?
Syria and the PLO received financial aid from them
Huge build up of arms, especially after the Iranian revolution, supplied by the US
What was the economic and social developments after 1973?
There was a huge influx of foreign workers and technology (2.1 million migrants workers in 1980)
Huge expansion of infrastructure and growth of the educated middle class (free medical care and education)
Why was Saudi Arabia on the fence about overthrowing Saddam Hussein?
In favour: Hussein is then not a big threat
Against: More criticism from Islamists of they supported it; it wasn’t an international call - just from the West; less Shia influence; political instability
What was Saudi Arabia’s position on the Gulf War?
They supported it due to their ties to the West and the fact that Iraq and Kuwait was their boarder. This is why they let coalition forces on the boarder for protection - criticism from other Arab states arose
What was Saudi Arabia’s position on the Iranian revolution?
The Shia regime meant that Iran became rivals with Saudi Arabia.
Iran wanted to spread the Islamic revolution and through that every other state was corrupt - Iran didn’t like Saudi Arabia’s ties to the West.
Why did Saudi Arabia go against the Baghdad Pact?
Due to their rivalry with the Hashemite dynasty (Iraq)
Why did Saudi Arabia go against Arab socialism?
They argued for Islamic unity - in 1969 they set up the first conference for Islamic Heads of States in Jeddah and they supported the pro-govt forces in Yemen whilst Nasser supported the rebels
When was the seizure of the Grand Mosques in Mecca?
1979
Who was behind the take over of the Grand Mosques? How much support did they have?
The Wahhabi radicals who spoke out against the corruption in the state - no overall support publicly but world criticism did occur
How did oil impact the take over of the Grand Mosques?
After 1982, there was a decline in oil prices and the Gulf States ran out of money due to the war and oil
What were the main reasons why there was a take over of the Grand Mosques?
Continuing economic decline
Continued presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil
Growing concerns of pro-Western orientation of the govt
Liberals wanted a democracy and began to call for it and Islamists called for a bigger govt and similar reforms
What did the Basic Law of Govt of 1992 do?
It reaffirmed the central role of the govt and the House of Saud but it did allow for a consultation council to support the King
