MONGABAY.COM
Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development (more)
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
|
|
Saudi Arabia
Index
Islam was a third factor that influenced Saudi foreign
policy. Solidarity with Muslim countries in Asia and Africa was
an important objective. Since the 1970s, countries such as
Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Somalia have received special
consideration in terms of foreign aid because of religious
affinity. Many Pakistani military personnel were on secondment to
the Saudi armed forces during the 1980s.
Islam was the principal motivation for Saudi Arabia's staunch
anticommunist position throughout the Cold War era. Riyadh
opposed the atheism that was the official policy of most
communist regimes. For example, it closed the Saudi legation in
Moscow in 1938 and declined to resume diplomatic ties with the
Soviet Union. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union at
the end of 1991, however, Riyadh established relations with most
of the fifteen separate republics. As an ally of the United
States, Saudi Arabia was a de facto political foe of the Soviet
Union and expended large sums over the years in an effort to
counteract Soviet influence in the Middle East. In one instance,
Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia actually became involved in a proxy war
with the Soviets. Throughout the 1980s, the Saudis supported the
Pakistan-based Afghan resistance groups whose guerrillas
routinely crossed into Afghanistan to fight against Soviet forces
occupying parts of the country from December 1979 until February
1989 in an effort to protect the Marxist government in Kabul.
From an Islamic perspective, it was permissible to maintain
diplomatic relations with non-Muslim states that were not hostile
to Islam. Saudi relations with non-Arab and non-Muslim countries
consisted primarily of commercial ties to the countries of
Western Europe, Japan, and South Asia. All these countries were
important customers for Saudi oil. In addition, Saudi Arabia
imported a wide range of consumer goods from Japan, Germany,
Britain, Italy, and France. Countries such as India, the
Philippines, Sri Lanka, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea)
also supplied thousands of foreign laborers for the kingdom.
* * *
Despite Saudi Arabia's significant strategic importance, few
scholars have had an opportunity to undertake research in the
country. Nevertheless, there are several studies that provide
valuable insights into the kingdom's political processes. Robert
Lacey's The Kingdom: Arabia and the House of Saud is
essential reading for an understanding of how the extensive Al
Saud operates as a political institution. Sandra Mackey's The
Saudis: Inside the Desert Kingdom, although written in a less
scholarly style, presents useful information about Saudi
politics. La péninsule arabique d'aujourd'hui edited by
Paul Bonnenfant contains several valuable articles dealing with
aspects of Saudi society. Summer Scott Huyette's Political
Adaptation in Saudi Arabia: A Study of the Council of
Ministers is an informative study of the development of
government institutions. (For further information and complete
citations
see
Bibliography.)
Data as of December 1992
|
|