When one thinks of progress or really, anything progressive, the last place they’d think of is Saudi Arabia. Human rights and civil liberties aren’t enjoyed ubiquitously amongst citizens; however, not due to Islam, but that of tribal culture and practices derivative of it that have been instilled into nationalistic practices and ideologies. So, when watching the 60 minutes episode interviewing Saudi prince, Mohammed Bin Salman (son to King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud) my interests were piqued because there were quite progressive concepts being proposed by the crown prince himself. However, I went digging (I am not quite up to date with relations in Saudi Arabia nor knowledgeable on the crown prince and his history) and discovered a few things.
On the surface, these propositions by the prince to move Saudi Arabia into the modern world with progressive values held by many nations is a positive concept. I mean, who wouldn’t want progressive liberties and rights? However, they may be just too drastic and quick changes that Saudi may not be able to handle nor recover from. You can’t go from an authoritarian and highly conservative state to a culturally revolutionizing progressive state. There will be backlash, and it likely won’t succeed nor be a smooth transition. Things like this take time and much effort.
It also does not help that the prince can often be reckless, ordering for many arrests like that when he sent orders to arrest 11 princes, 3 dozen senior officers and well-ranked businessmen. He arrests potential “traitors” but also liberal journalists and human rights activities that would supposedly align and support with his progressive ideals. Brash decisions will not earn the respect of his people needed to instill such change within the country. He’ll need support from Saudi’s top clerics in order to win the people over with progressive reform (the public still is conservative) in order to reach and gain the public's support for reform.
It’s also important to note many of these progressive changes being proposed are in a sense surface level changes in rights, they aren’t truly human rights being protected. The prince claims he will return Saudi Arabia to moderate Islam. “We want to live a normal life. A life in which our religion translates to tolerance, to our traditions of kindness.” I find this stance problematic, as he is accepting the false notions that Islam is a dangerous and malevolent religion when it isn’t.
It’s ignorant to accept these notions and not blame the evolved tribalistic nature of the monarchy and land for the violence, crime, and lack of civil liberties. This is diverting blame, not taking responsibility, and not working to improve the conditions in Saudi as proposed. He has proposed to lift the ban on restricting women’s ability to drive in 2018 and scale back guardianship laws that restrict women’s roles. He’s pushed reforms to allow for an un-banning of cinemas and allowing women in sporting stadiums.
The ideology is a good start, but that’s not merely enough. Saudi Arabia needs more than brash assertions of power and ideological shifts to create the change we wish to see (a progressive Saudi that retains its culture while being able to enjoy civil liberties of other nations). Saudi is aiming for economic reform and to achieve that must have social reform in some regards but in no way is it bringing about liberalism, democracy, and freedoms we in places like the west so openly enjoy.
One wonders if these ideas and notions are genuine or products of an economy-focused mindset. Is it to get more companies and nations on board for trade and investments? Likely so. Without any nods towards protecting human rights and righting the wrongs of history to Saudi’s own citizens, there is no promise nor foreseeable truly progressive future.
