Democracy in the Middle East
This directly correlates to Marc Lynch’s theory of regime security which asserts that the primary concern for Arab leaders is their surv “contends that the primary concern of Arab leaders in this hostile environment is not the interests of their states, but rather their own survival in power against both internal and external threats.”(Lynch, 315).
Prior to the 2011 uprisings, which engulfed the Middle East, Libya and Saudi Arabia are evidently similar states on a number of grounds. Both Saudi Arabia and Libya are Middle Eastern countries and most of the population belong to the Sunni Muslim faith. However, unlike Libya, Saudi Arabia is a monarchy. In Saudi, the ruling family “has broad powers with limitations coming from a need to observe Shari 'a and other Saudi traditions” (background note: Saudi Arabia. The two countries reflect distinct similarities, particularly concerning their abundant resource wealth, media censorship, weak political institutions and coercive force.
The most notable similarity between the two Arab regimes is its overwhelming classification as Rentier state as both derive more than half of its economic revenues directly from oil . Discovered in the 1950’s, Libya earns most of its money from its exports compared to its imports. Libya had the “highest per capita GDP in Africa” in the 90s (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia 6th edition 11/1/2011, Ebsco; Entelis, 38). Internationally, Saudi Arabia has the world’s largest production and exportation of oil. Saudi “oil accounts for more than 90% of the country 's exports and nearly 75% of government revenues.” Its “proven reserves are estimated to be 263 billion barrels, about one-quarter of world oil reserves” (Background Note: Saudi Arabia) Another distinct similarity between the two authoritarian regimes is their extensive measures to control and censor media access. In the case of Libya, Ghadaffi pursued a policy of “Arab nationalism and strict adherence to Islamic law”, ultimately
Prior to the 2011 uprisings, which engulfed the Middle East, Libya and Saudi Arabia are evidently similar states on a number of grounds. Both Saudi Arabia and Libya are Middle Eastern countries and most of the population belong to the Sunni Muslim faith. However, unlike Libya, Saudi Arabia is a monarchy. In Saudi, the ruling family “has broad powers with limitations coming from a need to observe Shari 'a and other Saudi traditions” (background note: Saudi Arabia. The two countries reflect distinct similarities, particularly concerning their abundant resource wealth, media censorship, weak political institutions and coercive force.
The most notable similarity between the two Arab regimes is its overwhelming classification as Rentier state as both derive more than half of its economic revenues directly from oil . Discovered in the 1950’s, Libya earns most of its money from its exports compared to its imports. Libya had the “highest per capita GDP in Africa” in the 90s (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia 6th edition 11/1/2011, Ebsco; Entelis, 38). Internationally, Saudi Arabia has the world’s largest production and exportation of oil. Saudi “oil accounts for more than 90% of the country 's exports and nearly 75% of government revenues.” Its “proven reserves are estimated to be 263 billion barrels, about one-quarter of world oil reserves” (Background Note: Saudi Arabia) Another distinct similarity between the two authoritarian regimes is their extensive measures to control and censor media access. In the case of Libya, Ghadaffi pursued a policy of “Arab nationalism and strict adherence to Islamic law”, ultimately
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