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Responsibility to Protect?
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
By Theodore Sauyet
Due Tuesday, June 7th
[Middle]
Overview: Saudi Arabia
Political Conditions:
Saudi Arabia was formed around the middle of the 19th century. The Arabian
Peninsula was sparsely inhabited due to the large amount of desert on the peninsula,
although people had inhabited the oases and coast for over 5,000 years. [Middle]
Muhammad bin Saud, a local ruler near the center of the peninsula joined with a
radical Islamist, Muhammad Abd Al-Wahhab, and began the nation of Saudi Arabia.
For the next century and a half, the Saudi family had to contend with the Egyptians,
the Ottomans, and other families in the peninsula. The modern borders are based on
Abdul Aziz Al Saud, who recaptured Riyadh, the historic capital of the empire. By
1932, Al Saud had conquered the entire modern Saudi Arabian state. [Background]
Al Saud died in 1953, and was replaced by his son, Saud. However, due to economic
issues, power was handed over to Crown Prince Faisal, who was assassinated in 1975.
King Khalid took power and continued modernization. Then Fahd, former Crown
Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister, took power. He helped to found the Gulf
Cooperation Council, a group dedicated to advancing the middle eastern development
[Tristam], and played a key part in the Gulf War in 1990-91. His health deteriorated
starts in 1995 with a stroke, and by 2005 prince Abdallah, who since then has been
making reforms in economic, political, and social areas of the country. Currently,
these reforms have included a municipal election in 2005 to elect half of the cabinet
members. [Background]
During the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon committed
mainly by Saudi nationals, the Royal Family had to choose between increasing
internal security, or succumbing to international pressure to become more democratic.
Also, in 2003, militant attacks on the capital, Riydah, killed 35 people. Since then,
terrorist attacks and demands for greater reform have increased. [Saudi]
Economy:
Saudi Arabia has a Gross Domestic Product (GDP of 622 billion per year, or $24,200
per year in US dollars. [Middle] The annual growth rate is 3.8%. [Background] This
GDP isn't helped by the unemployment figures, which estimates range from 10%25%. [Middle; Saudi] Also, the total labor force numbers 7.3 million, however 80%
(5.84) is non-national. [Middle]
Saudi Arabia has 25% of the worlds proven oil reserves, and oil accounts for
approximately 80% of gross product, 45% of its GDP, and 90% of its exports.
[Middle] Currently, production is at 10 million barrels a day, but it is intended to rise.
Lastly, Saudi Arabia is attempting to diversify its economy, to reduce reliance upon
oil revenues. [Saudi] Finally, in order to attract world investment, Saudi Arabia
acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2005 after many years of long
negotiations.
Social:
Saudi Arabia's population is approximately 26 million, of which 5.5 million are not
national Saudis. 100% of the population is Muslim, and all follow strict Shari'a law.
90% f the population is Arabic, 10% Afro-Asian, and 78% are literate. Most people
can expect 14 years of education. [Middle]
Currently, unemployment figures range from 10%-25%, and most people do not have
the education for skilled work and therefore must find menial jobs within the
economy. The government is currently increasing education and decreasing
unemployment. Recently, for example, the first co-educational university was
opened.
Executive Summary: Saudi Arabia
The Past Year
5 years ago, a group that calls itself Al-Quaedea in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) began
an uprising against Saudi Arabia. In August, AQAP almost assassinated the Deputy
Interior Minister, Prince Muhammed bin Nayef, through a suicide bomber. The group has
been traced to Yemen and has been smuggling agents through the loose border. Saudi
Arabia began the offensive on November 4th, 2009 after an attack on a border village,
which killed one guard and wounded 11 others. The Saudi Government has been
confining their attack to Saudi soil, according to itself. [Murphy]
Saudi Arabia has done well is dispersing the internal protests through billion dollar
programs. Some of these include opening new jobs and universities. However, it also
used a large police presence to quell the protesters. [World]
Finally, the economy has still been going strong. While diversification is still going on,
the economy will still be driven by oil. The only obstacle to political stability is the
pressure to go democratic and the choice of the new leader, however, will a new family
council, everything seems to be going smoothly. [World in Figures]
Source: mazamascience.com/oilexport
*Note: Saudi exports have been steadily rising until 2009, but that may be a fluke or a
bad stroke of luck. With this driving the economy, it will be difficult for Saudi Arabia to
diversify largely.
Source: faculty.fairfield.edu
*Note: With over 60% of Saudi Arabia's production in energy, it again will be difficult to
diversify with such a large percentage already in producing energy.
Responsibility to Protect Initiative?
Saudi Arabian Vote
At this time, I believe that Saudi Arabia would support the Responsibility to Protect
proposal by the United Nations Security Council.
Saudi Arabia is looking to diversify its economy. One of its strategies to do this was to
join the World Trade Organization. By doing this, it created a link between its economy
and the West. Would it not to support the Responsibility to Protect initiative, it would
jeopardize this link. Without this link between the economies, Saudi Arabia would lose
foreign investment and trade. Therefore, in the best interests of its economy, Saudi
Arabia must support the Responsibility to Protect initiative.
For several years now, Saudi Arabia has been dealing with insurgents in its southern
neighbor, Yemen. Was Responsibility to Protect put in place, Saudi Arabia would have
help in dealing with Yemen terrorists. This would have led to less loss of life, less
damage to their own soil, and less money spent. This of course works in Saudi Arabia's
favor.
The UN has helped Saudi Arabia in the past as well, so Saudi Arabia has no previous
grudge to bear against the UN. UNDP, the UN Development Program, has been helping
Saudi Arabia with diversifying, job creating, and infrastructure building. This program
has built trust, trust that Saudi Arabia has no need to break now.
Works Cited
“Background Note: Saudi Arabia.” state.gov U.S. State Department. 5-6-11. Web. 6-5-11
“Middle East: Saudi Arabia.” cia.gov Central Intelligence Agency. 5-17-11. Web
5-31-11
Murphy, Kyle. “Analysis: What is behind the Saudi offensive in Yemen?”
globalpost.com. Global Post. 5-30-10. Web. 6-6-11
“Saudi Arabia country profile.” bbc.com. British Broadcasting Service. 4-26-11. Web.
6-6-11
Tristam, Peter. “Glossary: Gulf Cooperation Council” middleeastabout.com About.com.
n.d. Web. 6-5-11
“The World in Figures: Countries: Saudi Arabia.” economist.com. The Economist.
11-22-10. Web. 6-6-11
“World: Saudi Arabia.” nytimes.com. New York Times. 5-27-11. Web. 6-6-11