Above: The flag of Saudi Arabia
Today, we want to study the politics of Middle Eastern Nations. We will learn some commonalities that most Middle Eastern nations share. Then, we will look at Saudi Arabia in detail to learn more about one country's system.
Commonalities in the Political Development of Many Middle Eastern Countries:
Five Pillars of Islam:
Two pictures from National Geographic on the Hajj.
Other Things to Remember about Islam:
Remember: diversity within Islam. Indonesia, where mixed with indigenous beliefs about holy mountains, Sufi mystics' repetition of divine names and trances, to Osama bin Laden.
Tolerance/Lack of Tolerance: Islam berwarna warni. Orang Islam berwarna warni.
Saudi Arabia
Absolute monarchy led by al-Saud family members (the king and an army of princes). Ministries and governorships appointed by king and controlled by princes or others within the ambit of the royal family. Council of Ministers passes laws, with assent of king (strong fusion of executive and legislative powers). Monarchs called "Custodians of the Holy Places."
Consultation allowed through 120-member Shura Council but decision-making power rests with royals. Also, by tradition, leaders at national and local levels remain open to receiving petitions from the population during formal times of audience
Constitution: Quran
Traditional society in which traditional values are upheld as Islamic values: separation of men and women, compulsory veiling of women, prevention of women from driving or travel without permission of male guardian (mobility, used to ride horses and camels-why are cars different?), religious police: Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (enforce sharia law on dress, homosexuality, unrelated males and females socializing, dietary laws, prayer times, alcohol, unIslamic entertainment, 2002 girl school fire scandal)
Regime the legacy of a tie up between the al-Saud family and Wahhabi clerics (see Wahhabism below). The clerics provide Islamic legitimacy to Saudi rule. The regime gives Wahhabis wide rein in determining religious orthodoxy, morals police, and education.
Control over oil supply (biggest producers, biggest reserves) gives regime resources to maintain its power.
Control over Mecca and Medina, Islam's two holiest cities, gives the regime a prominent role in the Islamic world as Protector of the Holy Places.
Wahhabism (Mohammed ibn Abd al-Wahhab, 1703-1792):
Return to pure Islam of the prophet. Only sources of inspiration are the Quran and the sunna (traditions surrounding the life of the prophet). Rejection of prevalent mystical sufism, worship of saints, pilgrimages to holy tombs.
Rigorous monotheism (tawhid), root out idolatry. Followers called themselves muwahhidun, those who proclaim tawhid, divine unity. Easy willingness to call others, even Muslims, of different beliefs/practice infidels (kafir). Wahhab himself described many practices of contemporary Muslims as jahiliya (pre-Islamic darkness).
Rule in accordance with the sharia, Islamic law (including use of Quranic punishments).
Unchanging?
Saudi Arabia is often portrayed as unchanging in the American media. In fact, under the surface, there are great forces working to change the country.
On one side, questioning of the existing order:
2011 King Abdullah says women will be able to vote and stand for municipal elections in 2015.
2011 women driving protests.
2009 Appointment of first female deputy minister (working on women's education issues).
2008 Founding of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). University with huge endowment to foster free inquiry and solution of problems of importance to Saudi Arabia/Middle East. First mixed-sex university in Saudi Arabia. No religious police on site. Women not required to be veiled in classes.
2005: Women allowed to vote and stand for Jiddah Chamber of Commerce, 2 won; some seats elected on municipal councils.
Dissatisfaction with conservatism (some are advocating taqarub, co-existence with non-Muslims; Princess Lolwah al-Faisal's desire for end to ban on women driving).
Questioning prompted by participation of Saudis in 9/11 and subsequent terror attacks, particularly those inside Saudi Arabia (attacks on foreigners' compounds, attacks on oil industry employees, radicals hitting at basis of regime as well since 9/11).
Rise in income levels, exposure to Western education, "magnet" of democracy (National Reform Document), reformist news outlets.
Pressure from the US to change educational system, get government to cut off funding for radical causes because these are seen to have contributed to terrorism and Saudi participation in 9/11. In 2010, school textbooks still taught that it was wrong to say hello to non-Muslims.
On the other side, resisting reform: But,
2011. Women driving protests bring on harsh sentences (10 lashes for one driver). But, King rescinds.
Draconian new laws in face of "Arab Spring." Controls on press, internet tightened. Closure threatened for any organ that "incites divisions between citizens" or "damages the country's public affairs," or insults the clerics.
Chief justice rules it is possible to kill owners of TV stations broadcasting immorality (removed by King).
Duty of Muslims to foster proselytization abroad/zakat. Must continue to provide aid to Muslims abroad (some of which has been used to support radical madrassahs [Islamic boarding schools] and fund terrorist activities).
Attack those who want change as Americanizers/not good Muslims.
Globally, Shi'a in league with Americans to destroy Wahhabism/traditional Saudi political arrangements (Examples from Iraq where Americans/Shi'a seen to be oppressing/killing/driving out Sunni Muslims).
Strength of some princes (Prince Nayef, Interior Minister since 1975, and others) tied to strength of clerics. If reform, they lose. Nayef looks likely to take over from Abdullah as king given age of notional crown-prince Sultan
Classification of the regime:
Number and kind of rulers
Political culture
Political development
Economic development
Economic system
Number and kinds of rulers: authoritarian (some always make the case totalitarian)
Political culture: traditional values dominate, influence of religion.
Political development: traditional.
Economic development: Special status for oil-rich states. Don't fit in developed/developing country rubric. Because they're rich, but they have not experienced broad-based development. Like developed: life expectancy 76.3, urbanization 82%, GDP per capita PPP $ 20,700, ag labor just 6.7%. Developing: Literacy 78.8%, women just 71%, TFR 3.83.
Economic system: Capitalist with strong state control of oil industry.
Tensions Between Authoritarianism, Democracy and Islam in the Middle East
Authoritarian states can maintain order, but they routinely deprive their citizens of rights of free association and expression. Tensions spring up, terrorism can result.
One of the explanations for the phenomenon of Osama Bin Laden was frustration with the government of Saudi Arabia as much as frustration with the United States. Quoting Abdo: “Across the Arab world, religious activists have been deprived of any forum allowing them to influence domestic politics. The lack of a free press and pluralistic political system leaves no room for Islamic expression inside the state. Compounding this anxiety is the United States’ financial and political support for authoritarian governments as rewards for stifling political participation.”
Democracy—if democratize, run the risk that Islamists will come to power (opposed by current elites and the United States) and subsequently deprive people of rights, just in a different way. Examples: Algeria in 1991 the Front Islamique du Salut (FIS), Kuwait after the Gulf War in 1991.
To learn more about Saudi Arabia from the Saudi perspective, see the Saudi Embassy in Washington, DC at http://www.saudiembassy.net/Index.asp.
BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS INDIA/DAMS NEXT CLASS. BE PREPARED WITH READING.
GETTING STARTED ON EUROPEAN UNION NEGOTIATION PROJECT.
September 27, 2011.
Author: tanp@uncw.edu
Back to Dr. Tan's homepage: http://people.uncw.edu/tanp/