Legal And Political Reforms In Saudi Arabia

The fractious relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia has long been a central concern in Washington. In the aftermath of 9/11 and amongst ongoing wars, the United States confronts an acute dilemma: how to cooperate with Riyadh against terrorism whilst confronting acute anti-Americanism? Using information gathered from extensive interviews with a plethora of officials, this book aims to analyze Saudi domestic reforms. It addresses the significant deficiency of information on such diverse matters as the judiciary and ongoing national dialogues, but also provides an alternative understanding of what motivates Saudi policy makers. How these reforms may impact on future Saudi decision-making will surely generate a slew of policy concerns for the United States and this study offers a few clarifications and solutions. This book will be of interest to anyone seeking a new perspective on the motivation behind legal and political reforms in Saudi Arabia, and the effects of these reforms beyond the Middle East.

- Law of provinces

This book examines the link between Islamic thought/jurisprudence on the one hand and political action on the other. It shows how reformism is deeply rooted in Islamic tradition and how Sunni scholars have become activists for change in Saudi Arabia.

Term "reform" or "reformation" is not new for Saudi society. Since its formation these terms are continuously being used. The transformation of Arabian Peninsula's geographic arrangement into modern state of Saudi Arabia itself is the result of socio-religious reform movement of Wahhabism. Later it passed through many reformation phases in the context of Pan Arabism, rising religious militancy after Iranian Revolution, falling oil prices in different global political scenarios, Persian Gulf War, and finally the worst among all, events of September 11, 2001. Before 9/11 some reformed socio-political and religious parameters started changing a stubborn and orthodox sphere into comparatively modernize and flexible environment. Since 9/11 Saudi Arabia is facing many internal and external threats. These threats are mainly considered as the major drivers that led the Saudi society towards serious steps of socio-cultural, economic and political reforms. Reform process and its outputs in Saudi Arabia has become a matter of great significance, not only for Royal House and Saudi citizens, but also for international community as well.

This book presents new insights and the most up-to-date research on Saudi Arabia's social, cultural, economic and political dynamics.

Offers an analysis of the politics of court reform through a focused review of Indonesia's complex court system.