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The Historical Roots of Saudi Arabia’s Legitimacy Crisis and Its Recent Evolution
Author(s): 
Pages: 90-104+120
Year: Issue:  4
Journal: Arab World Studies

Keyword:  Saudi ArabiaRegime Legitimacy CrisisOil EconomyMohammed bin Salman;
Abstract: Wahhabism and US instrumental roles have been institutionalized as two major pillars to the Saudi state-building. The polarity between the two pillars poses an innate regime legitimacy deficiency and a big obstacle to Saudi political evolution. Both liberal reform and Wahhabi governance attempted by the Saudi government encountered impasse,failing to address the structural imbalance within the establishment. Sole oil income has become the only effective tool to moderate the relations between the state and the society while upholding the established institutions. The combination of a soaring population and increasing expectation for participation blunted the oil income as a governance tool while adding to the risk of social revolution. Both regime pillars failed to respond effectively to the"Arab Spring",power consolidation by the House of Saud was left to be the last resort. The radical reorientation of both domestic and regional policies orchestrated by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is not only a reflection of the radicalization of Saudi youth,but a fresh attempt to address the root cause of the regime crisis which is necessary for all round social and economic reform.
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