tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post3227351412955566039..comments2023-09-07T03:20:24.100-07:00Comments on Revolutions and Political Violence: How will Saudi Arabia Respond to the Arab Spring?Michael Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669512353829041768noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042587494012331021.post-7449288513647865872013-03-04T21:57:34.487-08:002013-03-04T21:57:34.487-08:00I tend to agree with most of what you said, but ch...I tend to agree with most of what you said, but chalking the Saudi's spending on social projects up to "diffusion" is stretching it a little bit. Saudi Arabia has been subduing their population with social services and cash for years.<br /><br />For example, only weeks after the uprisings began, and far too soon for "diffusion" learning to have taken place, the Saudi government was throwing cash in the streets. One of my good Saudi friends received $5000 in his bank account from the government for absolutely no reason. Such spending, while the reason behind it remains obvious, is effective and has been effective in subduing Saudis for years.<br /><br />Another example, according to Jean-Pierre Filiu in the book "The Arab Revolution: 10 lessons from the Arab uprising," the Saudi government successfully used $36 billion dollars to socially subdue its people between 2003-2005 in light of a "jihadist" outbreak in the country, largely a response to the governments position on the Iraq war. <br /><br />Additionally, Filiu claims that the Saudis are the primary benefactors of their regional allies' social plans aimed at sating the rage of their local protesters. He claims that this is not due to diffusion, but rather the Saudi "oil-derived state largesse" that allows them to replicate their social spending in other countries experiencing higher degrees of discontent. Their spending then, is largely interest based, not necessarily a wholly reactionary policy to an event outside of their control.<br /><br />Beyond that, in a recent book by Karen Elliot House called "On Saudi Arabia," it is claimed that most Saudis do not even want democracy. So diffusion of ideas in this context is largely out of the realm of truth according to her. She believes instead, that as of today, Saudis want justice, increased freedom, and do not want to be subject to the royal whims of the multitude of Saudi princes. While she claims democracy will be the Saudi's path to such ends, she says it will be the responsibility of "generations unborn," suggesting that this "Arab Spring" is a long ways away for Saudi Arabia.<br /><br />Finally, as you noted, the protests in Saudi Arabia have been very small, disjointed, and largely Shi'a minorities. The general Saudi population--which is largely Sunni--is and has been very hesitant to align with any domestic or foreign Shi'a movement. This is due primarily to two reasons; 1) a successful domestic political campaign that has demonized Iran and its Shi'a "stooges" and (2) the actual meddling of Iran across the Arab world that has largely counteracted the majority of Saudi policy, both economic and political. James Glassmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05009163868468382001noreply@blogger.com