Saudi Arabia after the Arab Spring: Changing Domestic Policy
The article emphasizes that the most significant manifestation of the impact of the “Arab spring” on the internal political situation in Saudi Arabia was the attempt by activists of the “educated class” who were expressing diverse viewpoints to create their first organizational structures and act as an equal partner of the authorities in the process of the ongoing modernization changes, which also assumed the implementation of correction of the existing political system. It was not only about “liberal intellectuals”, but also about the followers of the moderate Salafi “enlightenment movement”. This attempt was not only unsuccessful, but the government was able to overcome the internal challenge that was thrown at it, retaining the leading role as the only initiator of the changes being made. Having categorically rejected the initiative of the Salafis, but nevertheless maintaining an alliance with the “liberals”, the authorities demanded complete loyalty from them. Attempts to “dissent” and “disobey the ruler” were ruled out. The political establishment only selectively and partially accepted the demands of its conditional “allies”. The course of power was especially pronounced after 2015, when Salman bin Abdel Aziz ascended the throne, and his son Muhammad bin Salman became a crown prince. The socio-economic transformations carried out by the authorities strengthen the legitimacy of the regime. And its highest representatives continue to play the Bedouin-Islamic role of the “noble rulers”. This provision excludes any aspirations of the “liberals” to change the existing order, leaving their “allies” the role of “junior partners” of the government.