Economic statistical indicators convey the fact Saudi Arabia is a developed nation. However, close analysis of political and social statistical indicators would suggest that their standard of living and individual freedoms are severely suppressed. This ?developed? nation has abnormalities in its statistical indicators which are similar to those that characterises third world nations. Saudi Arabia is oil rich and is a strictly Islamic State. Their Muslim religion and its strict adherence to their interpretation of their holy book the Quran actively dominates citizens position and role in their society. Even though they are a very modest nation in appearance, western countries are extremely concerned about the lack of human rights in Saudi Arabia. Areas of concern include abuse of prisoners, incommunicado detention, prohibitions or severe restrictions on freedom of speech, press, peaceful assembly, freedom of association, religion, denial of right of citizens to change their government, systematic discrimination against women and ethnic and religious minorities and suppression of workers rights.
Saudi Arabia was a poor country until oil was discovered beneath the eastern deserts in the late 1930?s. The country suddenly found itself very wealthy as it became an important exporter of oil in just a few years. The price of the oil increased very dramatically from just $3 a barrel to over $40 a barrel. This economic success ensured that the leaders became very wealthy. The GNP per capita is economically sound. However, this figure is misleading. A large proportion of GNP is channeled towards the leaders while a disproportionate sum is filtered to the citizens. A large amount of construction was initiated using the revenues earned. However, most of the workforce consisted of cheap foreign labour while the Saudi Arabian citizens suffer an enormous 25% unemployment rate compared to the United States 5% unemployment. This economic success dropped somewhat as oil prices dropped tremendously in 1998-1999. Large amounts of construction work were halted and social programs were cut to reduce costs. However, since late 1999, the oil producers cartel agreed to lower the production rate of oil so that the price of oil would rise. Their move was very successful and oil rose from US$10 per barrel US$31 per barrel. Recently, at a meeting of the oil cartel, the rate of production was increased in order to reduce the price of oil to a stable level (US$25 per barrel) and satisfy the western world? this shows the politics of oil. Political Structure There are no formal democratic institutions in Saudi Arabia. Only a few of the wealthy and politically empowered have a voice in the choice of leader or change of political system. The King rules on civil and religious matters and appoints all of the ministers of the government. They in turn appoint subordinate officials with cabinet concurrence. This means the ordinary citizen have no voice at all in how their Government is run. In theory, any male citizen or foreign national may express an opinion or air a grievance to the Consultative Council. However, this rarely occurs as the Government has a high intolerance of any oppositional group. For example, The Committee for Defense of Legitimate Rights (CDLR) was established in 1993. The Government acted almost immediately to repress it. Women play no formal role in government and politics and are actively discouraged from doing so. The government severely limits the freedom of speech and press. They do not allow any criticism of Islam, the ruling family or the government. If criticism does occur even implications through editorial comments and cartoons, the party/s involved are subject to arrest and detention until they confess to a crime and or sign a statement to cease criticism. Strict censors remove, blacken or glue pages containing any offending articles referring to any religion other than Islam, or criticism from the foreign press. The citizens are therefore unable express or encounter any views other than those approved by the Government of Saudi Arabia. Civil liberties are not respected. Religious Structure Freedom of religion does not exist. Islam is the official religion and all citizens must be Muslims. The Government prohibits the public practice of other religions No non-Muslim religious material is allowed such as a traveler wearing a crucifix necklace and no peaceful assembly of a non-Muslim church permitted. Every part of Saudi Arabian life is guided by its religion. It is one of the more conservative countries of the Muslim faith. There is substantial prejudice based on ethnic or national origin. Although the Quran did give women a clear legal status as independent human beings who are allowed to control their own money long before this was allowed in Britain, discrimination is still evident in their interpretation of the holy book. The Islamic Law states that ?daughters receive half the inheritance awarded to brothers? and ?the testimony of one man equals that of two women?. There are greater restrictions on women than on men regarding marriage to non-Saudi?s and non-Muslims. The conversion of a Muslim to another religion is considered apostasy which is a crime under the Shari?a law which is punishable by death. Cultural Structure Although discrimination of women is very prevalent, most of it is actually not part of the original beliefs of Islam. It has been enforced more because it is a tradition. Physical spousal abuse and violence against women are common problems. However, the government considers these issues to be a family matter and rarely intervenes. Women cannot leave their home without the accompaniment of a male escort. They are not permitted to drive at all and cannot use pubic transport or be hospitalised without the consent of a male relative. Segregation of women occurs everywhere and women make up only 5% of the formal workforce. Women must demonstrate legally specified grounds for divorce yet men may divorce without giving cause. There is quite a low literacy rate as exemplified in ?Table 1? where only 72% of males are literate and a low 50% of females are literate. Even when compared to the suppressed developing country of Cambodia, these figures are low. This causes a difficulty in job placement among Saudi Arabians, which is possibly another reason why foreign labor is so predominant. Whilst the country is economically rich in oil and related industrial infrastructure, it is ?capital poor? in general education and skills. All these factors will have a major effect on the nation when the oil reserves are depleted. The high infant mortality rate of 55 deaths per 1000 births is another indicator of Saudi Arabian?s statistics similar to that of a developing country. This rate is high possibly because women need the consent of a male relative to go to the hospital and the men may not want their wife to go to the hospital because they may ?lose face?. The newly delivered baby may not get the medical attention that it may require until it is too late. It may well be that family or clan midwives are used in preference to a hospital birth. The birth rate of 34.30 births/1000 is very high. This is a characteristic counteraction of developing countries with a high infant mortality rate. Recommendation No one solution will be able to eradicate the problems of Saudi Arabia. Most of their way of life has been imbedded too deeply, that even those disadvantaged by the system accept it as right. Many ?solutions? have already been implemented but have failed to achieve their goals. .
Saudi Arabia was a poor country until oil was discovered beneath the eastern deserts in the late 1930?s. The country suddenly found itself very wealthy as it became an important exporter of oil in just a few years. The price of the oil increased very dramatically from just $3 a barrel to over $40 a barrel. This economic success ensured that the leaders became very wealthy. The GNP per capita is economically sound. However, this figure is misleading. A large proportion of GNP is channeled towards the leaders while a disproportionate sum is filtered to the citizens. A large amount of construction was initiated using the revenues earned. However, most of the workforce consisted of cheap foreign labour while the Saudi Arabian citizens suffer an enormous 25% unemployment rate compared to the United States 5% unemployment. This economic success dropped somewhat as oil prices dropped tremendously in 1998-1999. Large amounts of construction work were halted and social programs were cut to reduce costs. However, since late 1999, the oil producers cartel agreed to lower the production rate of oil so that the price of oil would rise. Their move was very successful and oil rose from US$10 per barrel US$31 per barrel. Recently, at a meeting of the oil cartel, the rate of production was increased in order to reduce the price of oil to a stable level (US$25 per barrel) and satisfy the western world? this shows the politics of oil. Political Structure There are no formal democratic institutions in Saudi Arabia. Only a few of the wealthy and politically empowered have a voice in the choice of leader or change of political system. The King rules on civil and religious matters and appoints all of the ministers of the government. They in turn appoint subordinate officials with cabinet concurrence. This means the ordinary citizen have no voice at all in how their Government is run. In theory, any male citizen or foreign national may express an opinion or air a grievance to the Consultative Council. However, this rarely occurs as the Government has a high intolerance of any oppositional group. For example, The Committee for Defense of Legitimate Rights (CDLR) was established in 1993. The Government acted almost immediately to repress it. Women play no formal role in government and politics and are actively discouraged from doing so. The government severely limits the freedom of speech and press. They do not allow any criticism of Islam, the ruling family or the government. If criticism does occur even implications through editorial comments and cartoons, the party/s involved are subject to arrest and detention until they confess to a crime and or sign a statement to cease criticism. Strict censors remove, blacken or glue pages containing any offending articles referring to any religion other than Islam, or criticism from the foreign press. The citizens are therefore unable express or encounter any views other than those approved by the Government of Saudi Arabia. Civil liberties are not respected. Religious Structure Freedom of religion does not exist. Islam is the official religion and all citizens must be Muslims. The Government prohibits the public practice of other religions No non-Muslim religious material is allowed such as a traveler wearing a crucifix necklace and no peaceful assembly of a non-Muslim church permitted. Every part of Saudi Arabian life is guided by its religion. It is one of the more conservative countries of the Muslim faith. There is substantial prejudice based on ethnic or national origin. Although the Quran did give women a clear legal status as independent human beings who are allowed to control their own money long before this was allowed in Britain, discrimination is still evident in their interpretation of the holy book. The Islamic Law states that ?daughters receive half the inheritance awarded to brothers? and ?the testimony of one man equals that of two women?. There are greater restrictions on women than on men regarding marriage to non-Saudi?s and non-Muslims. The conversion of a Muslim to another religion is considered apostasy which is a crime under the Shari?a law which is punishable by death. Cultural Structure Although discrimination of women is very prevalent, most of it is actually not part of the original beliefs of Islam. It has been enforced more because it is a tradition. Physical spousal abuse and violence against women are common problems. However, the government considers these issues to be a family matter and rarely intervenes. Women cannot leave their home without the accompaniment of a male escort. They are not permitted to drive at all and cannot use pubic transport or be hospitalised without the consent of a male relative. Segregation of women occurs everywhere and women make up only 5% of the formal workforce. Women must demonstrate legally specified grounds for divorce yet men may divorce without giving cause. There is quite a low literacy rate as exemplified in ?Table 1? where only 72% of males are literate and a low 50% of females are literate. Even when compared to the suppressed developing country of Cambodia, these figures are low. This causes a difficulty in job placement among Saudi Arabians, which is possibly another reason why foreign labor is so predominant. Whilst the country is economically rich in oil and related industrial infrastructure, it is ?capital poor? in general education and skills. All these factors will have a major effect on the nation when the oil reserves are depleted. The high infant mortality rate of 55 deaths per 1000 births is another indicator of Saudi Arabian?s statistics similar to that of a developing country. This rate is high possibly because women need the consent of a male relative to go to the hospital and the men may not want their wife to go to the hospital because they may ?lose face?. The newly delivered baby may not get the medical attention that it may require until it is too late. It may well be that family or clan midwives are used in preference to a hospital birth. The birth rate of 34.30 births/1000 is very high. This is a characteristic counteraction of developing countries with a high infant mortality rate. Recommendation No one solution will be able to eradicate the problems of Saudi Arabia. Most of their way of life has been imbedded too deeply, that even those disadvantaged by the system accept it as right. Many ?solutions? have already been implemented but have failed to achieve their goals. .
