On Saudi Arabia

Introduction

Saudi Arabia remains one of the most enigmatic and closed-off nations in the world. As an absolute monarchy and the birthplace of Islam, it operates unlike any other country on Earth. In her book "On Saudi Arabia," Karen Elliott House provides a rare and insightful look behind the veil of this mysterious kingdom.

Drawing on years of experience reporting from the region, House explores the complex religious, political, and social dynamics that shape modern Saudi Arabia. She examines how an oil-rich nation struggles with unemployment, how women are pushing for greater rights, and how a new generation of youth is challenging traditional power structures.

This summary will take you on a journey through the key ideas and revelations in House's book, offering a nuanced understanding of Saudi Arabia's past, present, and potential future. From the origins of the Saudi monarchy to the impact of social media on Saudi society, we'll explore the forces that make this desert kingdom such a fascinating and consequential player on the world stage.

The Foundations of Saudi Power

An Absolute Monarchy in the Modern World

Saudi Arabia stands out as one of the last remaining absolute monarchies in the world. Unlike constitutional monarchies like the United Kingdom, where royals serve a largely ceremonial role, the Saudi king wields nearly unlimited power over his domain.

The king's authority extends to every corner of Saudi governance:

• He appoints the country's top religious leaders
• He selects all judges
• He chooses the 150 members of the powerless parliament
• He places royal family members in charge of key regions

To maintain control, the royal family keeps a tight grip on media outlets and closely monitors social and civic organizations. This helps prevent the formation of any political opposition that might threaten their rule.

While this level of centralized power may seem archaic to outsiders, it's rooted in Saudi Arabia's unique history and religious traditions.

From Tribal Lands to Unified Kingdom

Before the 20th century, the Arabian Peninsula was a patchwork of rival Bedouin tribes with no single ruler. This changed dramatically in 1932, when King Ibn Saud completed a 30-year military campaign to unite the region under his leadership.

Ibn Saud faced a major challenge: how to keep the fiercely independent Bedouin tribes loyal to a central authority. His solution was to leverage religion as a unifying force.

The king embraced Wahhabism, a strict and puritanical form of Islam. He used this ideology to convince the nomadic tribes to form settled communities called umma. In these communities, people were united by a shared belief and unquestioning obedience to the Quran.

Crucially, the royal family positioned themselves as Allah's representatives on Earth. This gave their rule a divine mandate, ensuring loyalty from their deeply religious subjects.

This marriage of political and religious authority remains at the core of Saudi governance to this day. It helps explain why challenges to royal power are often seen not just as political dissent, but as a form of blasphemy.

Religion in Saudi Life

The Centrality of Islam

For most Westerners, even those who consider themselves religious, faith plays a relatively limited role in daily life. Prayer and worship are often confined to specific times or holidays. In Saudi Arabia, however, Islam permeates every aspect of society.

The most visible manifestation of this is salat - the ritual prayers that observant Muslims perform five times each day. Unlike the casual, conversational prayers common in Western traditions, salat is a highly formalized ritual:

1. It begins with a purification process, washing specific parts of the body
2. Prayers are recited in a prescribed manner
3. It concludes with prostrations towards Mecca

What's striking to outsiders is how this practice takes precedence over all other activities. Whether in the middle of a conversation, shopping, or walking down the street, Saudis will pause to pray when the call to prayer sounds.

This devotion to religious practice reflects the deep integration of Islam into Saudi identity and governance. It's not just a personal faith, but the foundation of social norms and legal structures.

Debates Within the Religious Establishment

While Islam's role in Saudi life is unquestioned, there is growing debate about how religious principles should be applied in a changing world. This is particularly evident in discussions about gender segregation and women's roles in society.

In 2009, a senior religious scholar criticized the mixing of men and women at new Saudi universities. This sparked a debate among religious leaders:

• Some defended gender mixing, pointing out that Prophet Mohammed socialized with unrelated women
• Others insisted on maintaining strict segregation

These disagreements even led to conflicting directives from religious authorities. The head of the religious police ordered his officers to stop interfering with men and women meeting in public, while the grand mufti (the highest religious authority after the king) expressed disapproval.

These public debates, played out in newspapers and social media, have had an interesting effect. They've led some Saudis to question whether the rules of Wahhabi Islam are truly as absolute and unchanging as they've been taught.

This internal debate within the religious establishment reflects broader tensions in Saudi society. As the kingdom cautiously modernizes, it's struggling to balance traditional interpretations of Islam with the realities of contemporary life.

The Changing Face of Saudi Society

Breaking Down Barriers of Isolation

Historically, Saudi Arabian society has been characterized by isolation - both from the outside world and between different segments of the population. This isolation stems from several factors:

1. The harsh desert environment, which historically made large gatherings difficult
2. A cultural emphasis on family and tribal loyalty over broader social bonds
3. Religious doctrines that discourage frivolous gatherings and emphasize prayer

The Saudi monarchy has traditionally reinforced these divisions. By keeping people separate and focused on survival within their own small groups, the ruling family has been able to maintain power with less risk of organized opposition.

However, this long-standing social structure is beginning to crumble in the face of technological change. The rise of satellite television, mobile phones, and especially social media has created new ways for Saudis to connect with each other and the wider world.

These technologies are allowing Saudis to:

• Share information and opinions more freely
• Organize around shared interests or grievances
• Access perspectives from outside the kingdom

While the government still attempts to control information flow, it's becoming increasingly difficult to keep Saudis isolated from outside influences or from each other.

Social Media as a Force for Change

The impact of social media on Saudi society has been particularly profound. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter have given Saudis new ways to express themselves and challenge authority.

In normal times, most Saudi social media conversations remain friendly and apolitical. However, during moments of crisis or perceived injustice, these platforms can quickly become hotbeds of criticism and activism.

This was evident during the floods that struck Saudi Arabia in 2009 and 2011. The government's poor response and attempts to downplay the damage angered many citizens. Social media became an outlet for this frustration:

• People shared firsthand accounts and photos of the flooding
• They criticized the government's lack of preparedness
• They challenged official narratives about the number of people affected

These online discussions represented a significant shift. For the first time, ordinary Saudis had a way to publicly voice dissatisfaction with their government and connect with others who shared their concerns.

While the Saudi government still maintains tight control over traditional media, social platforms have created a new, harder-to-control space for public discourse. This is slowly but surely changing the relationship between Saudi citizens and their rulers.

Women in Saudi Arabia: Tradition and Change

The Traditional Role of Women

Saudi Arabia is known for having some of the strictest gender segregation and limitations on women's rights in the world. This system is rooted in a particular interpretation of Islamic law and longstanding cultural traditions.

Under this system, women are expected to:

• Remain largely confined to the domestic sphere
• Obtain permission from male guardians for many activities
• Cover themselves fully in public
• Avoid mixing with unrelated men

Perhaps the most famous restriction is the ban on women driving, which makes Saudi Arabia the only country in the world with such a prohibition. This ban is less about driving itself and more about limiting women's freedom of movement without male supervision.

These restrictions have long been justified as protecting women's modesty and upholding religious values. However, they've also served to reinforce male dominance in Saudi society and limit women's economic and social opportunities.

Pushing for Progress

Despite these entrenched traditions, Saudi women are increasingly pushing for greater rights and freedoms. This movement has gained momentum in recent years, partly inspired by the broader Arab Spring uprisings in the region.

Some key developments include:

• Organized "drive-ins" where women defiantly got behind the wheel to protest driving restrictions
• Increased participation in the workforce, including in previously male-dominated fields
• Greater presence on social media, allowing women to share their experiences and organize

The Saudi government, particularly under King Abdullah (who ruled from 2005 to 2015), has made some concessions to these demands:

• In 2011, it was announced that women would be allowed to vote and run in municipal elections starting in 2015
• Women have been appointed to the Consultative Assembly, a governmental advisory body
• Some restrictions on women's employment have been loosened

However, these changes are often seen as more symbolic than substantive. The political bodies where women can now participate have little real power, and the fundamental system of male guardianship remains largely intact.

The struggle for women's rights in Saudi Arabia illustrates the broader tensions in the kingdom between tradition and modernity. As more Saudi women gain education and exposure to global ideas, pressure for change is likely to continue growing.

Youth Rebellion and Social Unrest

A New Generation Challenges Tradition

Saudi Arabia is experiencing a phenomenon that would have been unthinkable just a generation ago: widespread youth rebellion. This shift is particularly significant given the country's traditionally conservative and compliant culture.

Several factors are driving this change:

1. Demographics: Saudi Arabia has an incredibly young population, with a median age of just 31 years
2. Education and global exposure: Young Saudis are more connected to the outside world than ever before
3. Economic frustration: High youth unemployment is fueling discontent
4. Rigid social restrictions: Many young people chafe against strict religious and cultural norms

This rebellious spirit manifests in various ways:

• Some youth are embracing religious extremism as a form of protest
• Others are adopting Western styles of dress and behavior
• Many are using social media to voice criticism of the government and society

The 2011 Arab Youth Survey revealed that 31% of Saudi youth claimed to no longer believe in traditional values - the highest percentage among the ten Arab countries surveyed.

Challenging the Status Quo

This youthful discontent is putting increasing pressure on the Saudi government to embrace reform. Young activists are using new tools and tactics to shine a light on social problems and demand change.

One powerful example is the short film "We Are Screwed" by Feras Bugnah. This nine-minute documentary exposed the squalid living conditions in poor neighborhoods of Riyadh, the Saudi capital. It raised uncomfortable questions about how such poverty could exist in one of the world's wealthiest nations.

The film went viral, garnering nearly a million views in Saudi Arabia alone. This led to Bugnah's arrest, but public outcry on social media forced the government to release him after 15 days.

This incident illustrates the new dynamic at play in Saudi Arabia:

• Young people are more willing to openly criticize societal problems
• Social media allows these critiques to reach a wide audience quickly
• The government is struggling to balance maintaining control with addressing legitimate grievances

As this generation comes of age, they're likely to continue pushing for greater freedoms and accountability from their leaders. How the Saudi monarchy responds to these demands will be crucial in shaping the country's future.

The Paradox of Saudi Princes

A Kingdom Overflowing with Royalty

One of the unique aspects of Saudi Arabia is the sheer number of princes in the country. This unusual situation stems from the founding king's large family:

• King Ibn Saud had 30 wives
• He fathered 44 sons and numerous daughters
• Three generations later, there are thousands of princes and princesses

In theory, princes are supposed to play important roles in governing the country:

• Overseeing regions
• Holding high-ranking government positions
• Representing the monarchy to the people

However, there simply aren't enough meaningful positions for all these royals. As a result, many princes receive a generous monthly allowance (around $19,000) but have no official duties.

Princes Seeking Purpose

Contrary to what one might expect, many Saudi princes aren't content to simply live off their royal stipends. Many actively seek ways to contribute to society and make a name for themselves beyond their royal lineage.

Prince Abdullah provides an interesting example:

• As a grandson of the founding king, he received only a small allowance
• Ambitious to make his own way, he took out a bank loan
• In 1991, he started a successful paper-recycling business

Beyond business ventures, some princes engage in social and cultural initiatives. Prince Abdullah, for instance, wrote a book comparing US and Saudi sports cultures. His goal was to encourage Saudis to take more personal responsibility for their successes and failures, rather than attributing everything to external factors.

These efforts by princes to find meaningful roles reflect a broader tension in Saudi society. As the country modernizes and faces new challenges, even members of the royal family are grappling with questions of purpose and identity in a changing world.

Education and Employment Challenges

The Struggle to Build an Effective Education System

Despite massive investments in education, Saudi Arabia continues to face significant challenges in preparing its youth for the modern workforce.

The scale of the challenge becomes clear when you consider the starting point:

• Before the 1960s, there was virtually no public education system
• In that era, only 2% of girls and 22% of boys attended school

Recognizing this deficit, Saudi Arabia has poured enormous resources into education in recent decades:

• The country now spends more on education as a percentage of GDP than the United States
• Hundreds of billions of dollars have been invested in schools and universities

However, these investments have not yielded the expected results. Saudi students still perform poorly in international comparisons:

• In 2011, Saudi Arabian students ranked among the lowest in math and other key subjects

Several factors contribute to this underperformance:

1. Lack of qualified teachers, especially for male students (women are not allowed to teach boys)
2. A curriculum heavily focused on religious studies at the expense of other subjects
3. Cultural attitudes that sometimes undervalue education, especially for girls
4. Resistance from religious conservatives to modernizing the curriculum

The Employment Crisis

The shortcomings of the education system have contributed to a severe unemployment problem, especially among young Saudis:

• For those aged 20-24, the unemployment rate is 45.5% for women and 30% for men
• Many educated Saudis struggle to find work that matches their qualifications
• The private sector often prefers to hire foreign workers, who may be better trained or willing to work for lower wages

This high youth unemployment is more than just an economic problem - it's a potential source of social and political instability. Unemployed youth are more likely to become disaffected and potentially drawn to extremist ideologies.

Recognizing this threat, King Abdullah made education reform a priority:

• Education spending was tripled to $137 billion in 2010
• A new, reform-minded minister of education was appointed
• For the first time, a woman (Norah al-Faiz) was named deputy minister of education

However, progress remains slow. Religious conservatives continue to resist changes to the curriculum, insisting that schools should focus primarily on Islamic theology and history.

The challenge for Saudi Arabia is clear: how to create an education system that prepares students for the modern economy while still respecting the country's religious and cultural traditions. Solving this puzzle is crucial not just for the kingdom's economic future, but for its social stability as well.

Economic Challenges and Attempts at Diversification

The Perils of Oil Dependence

Saudi Arabia's economy has long been dominated by its vast oil reserves. While this natural resource has brought immense wealth, it has also created significant vulnerabilities:

1. Over-reliance on a single commodity: Oil accounts for about 87% of Saudi budget revenues and 90% of export earnings
2. Vulnerability to price fluctuations: The Saudi economy rises and falls with global oil prices
3. Limited job creation: The oil industry is capital-intensive but doesn't create many jobs for ordinary Saudis
4. Lack of economic diversification: Other sectors of the economy remain underdeveloped

Perhaps most worryingly, Saudi Arabia's oil reserves are not infinite. According to projections from Jadwa Investment, a Saudi financial institution, the combination of depleting reserves and increased domestic spending could push the country into debt by 2030.

Dependence on Foreign Labor

Another key challenge for the Saudi economy is its reliance on foreign workers:

• Expatriates make up about a third of the Saudi population
• They dominate many sectors of the private economy
• Foreign workers are often better educated or willing to work for lower wages than Saudi citizens

This situation contributes to the high unemployment rate among Saudi nationals and exacerbates wealth inequality. Many Saudis struggle with poverty, with 40% living on less than $850 per month.

Attempts at Reform and Diversification

Recognizing these challenges, Saudi leaders have made various attempts to reform the economy and reduce oil dependence:

1. Investing in education and training to create a more skilled Saudi workforce
2. Encouraging the development of non-oil industries like manufacturing and services
3. Implementing "Saudization" policies to increase the employment of Saudi nationals in the private sector
4. Creating new economic cities and special economic zones to attract foreign investment

King Abdullah's approach included:

• Setting a minimum wage for government jobs
• Giving public sector workers bonuses
• Creating 126,000 new jobs in education, healthcare, and security

However, these efforts have had mixed results:

• Many reforms have been slow to implement or faced resistance
• The focus on public sector jobs reinforces dependence on government spending
• The private sector remains reluctant to hire Saudi workers, who are often seen as less productive and more expensive than foreign labor

The fundamental challenge remains: how to transition from an oil-based rentier economy to a diverse, productive economy that can provide meaningful employment for Saudi citizens. This transition is essential not just for economic reasons, but for the long-term stability of the kingdom.

Conclusion: A Kingdom at a Crossroads

Karen Elliott House's "On Saudi Arabia" paints a picture of a nation grappling with profound contradictions and challenges. The kingdom finds itself pulled between tradition and modernity, religious conservatism and the pressures of globalization, authoritarian control and the rising expectations of its youthful population.

Key themes that emerge from this exploration of Saudi Arabia include:

1. The enduring power of the monarchy, buttressed by religious authority and oil wealth
2. The central role of Islam in shaping Saudi society and governance
3. The gradual erosion of social isolation due to technology and global influences
4. The growing assertiveness of women and youth in challenging traditional norms
5. The urgent need for economic diversification and job creation
6. The struggle to reform education and prepare Saudis for a post-oil future

As Saudi Arabia looks to the future, it faces a series of critical questions:

• Can the monarchy evolve to meet the changing expectations of its people without losing its grip on power?
• How can the country balance its conservative religious traditions with the demands of a modern economy and society?
• Can Saudi Arabia successfully diversify its economy and create meaningful employment for its growing youth population?
• Will incremental reforms be enough to address mounting social and economic pressures, or is more dramatic change inevitable?

The answers to these questions will not only shape the future of Saudi Arabia but will have significant implications for the wider Middle East and the global community. As one of the world's largest oil producers and the custodian of Islam's holiest sites, Saudi Arabia's stability and direction matter far beyond its borders.

House's book suggests that while change is coming to Saudi Arabia, its pace and direction remain uncertain. The country's leaders face the delicate task of reforming a system that has brought them immense power and wealth, while also addressing the very real grievances and aspirations of their people.

For outside observers, understanding Saudi Arabia requires looking beyond simplistic stereotypes and appreciating the complex interplay of religion, culture, economics, and politics that shape this unique nation. As the kingdom navigates its way through the 21st century, it will remain a fascinating and consequential player on the world stage - one that demands our attention and understanding.