Saudi Arabia: Contemporary Operational Environment
Looking at Saudi Arabia, we must first analyze what makes a massive, barren landscape hospitable to more than 31 million Saudis. 129,000 miles of border and 158 miles of coastline including the only country with both the Red Sea and Persian Gulf access makes Saudi Arabia a very viable trade route. What exports does this country produce to sustain itself and its military? How does Religion play into its politics? Where does the loyalty of its people lie and what systems are in place to ensure this nation remains an ally to NATO?
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy. According to a royal a decree made in 1992, (Basic Law of Saudi Arabia), the king must abide by Sharia Law. …show more content…
This form of government works to control all of its citizens’ public and private lives. Pushing its propaganda through state-owned mass media. This can regulate and restrict freedom of speech as well as other freedoms. The kingdoms political decisions happen with little regard to the people themselves. The tribal sheiks are the only entity outside of the royal family with any influence on politics. An example of lack of freedoms in Saudi Arabia is the law forbidding women to drive cars. All males of full age in Saudi Arabia have the right to petition the king through a traditional tribal meeting called mailis. This is very similar to traditional tribal rule. The major threats to the politics of Al Saud is Sunni Islamist activism. The Islamist activists are responsible for the majority of the terror attacks on the government. The government prohibits protests, including peaceful protests.
Saudi Arabia: Contemporary Operational Environment
Saudi Arabia spends more than 10% of its Gross Domestic Product on its military. It has a …show more content…
Claiming approximately 9.7 million barrels of crude oil per day, Saudi Arabia boasts the richest oil fields in the world. It is widely claimed that KSA has grossly exaggerated. Saudi Arabia’s economy can be adversely affected by the OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and any restrictions or sanctions on the oil industry. The only diversification of income is in steel production and petrochemicals. Other sources of income for KSA are the nearly 40,000 temporary jobs that are created each summer during the Muslim holy journey to Mecca, called a Hajj. The financial gap between the upper class and lower class is gigantic. An astounding 22% of Saudi citizens identify as poor, which is living on less than $530 dollars a
Looking at Saudi Arabia, we must first analyze what makes a massive, barren landscape hospitable to more than 31 million Saudis. 129,000 miles of border and 158 miles of coastline including the only country with both the Red Sea and Persian Gulf access makes Saudi Arabia a very viable trade route. What exports does this country produce to sustain itself and its military? How does Religion play into its politics? Where does the loyalty of its people lie and what systems are in place to ensure this nation remains an ally to NATO?
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy. According to a royal a decree made in 1992, (Basic Law of Saudi Arabia), the king must abide by Sharia Law. …show more content…
This form of government works to control all of its citizens’ public and private lives. Pushing its propaganda through state-owned mass media. This can regulate and restrict freedom of speech as well as other freedoms. The kingdoms political decisions happen with little regard to the people themselves. The tribal sheiks are the only entity outside of the royal family with any influence on politics. An example of lack of freedoms in Saudi Arabia is the law forbidding women to drive cars. All males of full age in Saudi Arabia have the right to petition the king through a traditional tribal meeting called mailis. This is very similar to traditional tribal rule. The major threats to the politics of Al Saud is Sunni Islamist activism. The Islamist activists are responsible for the majority of the terror attacks on the government. The government prohibits protests, including peaceful protests.
Saudi Arabia: Contemporary Operational Environment
Saudi Arabia spends more than 10% of its Gross Domestic Product on its military. It has a …show more content…
Claiming approximately 9.7 million barrels of crude oil per day, Saudi Arabia boasts the richest oil fields in the world. It is widely claimed that KSA has grossly exaggerated. Saudi Arabia’s economy can be adversely affected by the OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and any restrictions or sanctions on the oil industry. The only diversification of income is in steel production and petrochemicals. Other sources of income for KSA are the nearly 40,000 temporary jobs that are created each summer during the Muslim holy journey to Mecca, called a Hajj. The financial gap between the upper class and lower class is gigantic. An astounding 22% of Saudi citizens identify as poor, which is living on less than $530 dollars a