The Saudi way
Century after century, people endeavor to find a better way to govern themselves never stopped. The middle ages were dominated by fascism, totalitarian rulers and theocracies ( rule of religion ). It is in the late 17th century that some people started realizing their rights to govern themselves rather than leaving it to dictators, emperors and clergy.
Since then, three forms of governments developed around the world. Democracy in the US and Western Europe, Fascism in central Europe and Communism in Russia, Eastern Europe and China. The world has seen the collapse of Fascism in the first half of the 20th century and the collapse of Communism in the second half of it. The same second half witnessed failed attempts to use some form of religion ( Islam ) to form a government as we saw in Algeria, Iran and Afghanistan.
This leaves Western democracy alone in the 21st century as the best available choice. However, western democracy is going thru turmoil as one of its pillars, Capitalism, is facing some sort of a deadlock. Also, western democracy is showing unprecedented high levels of financial and political corruption.
What to do ?
What is the Saudi way ?
Before talking about the Saudi Way, I would like to say what I consider a good government. It is a government that is strong and just. These are the two magic words. If you look at governments in Africa or South America you find they do not last long and there is turmoil and instability. It is because the governments are neither strong nor just.
If you look at the Middle East, there is more stability because the lack of justice is compensated by extra strength. If you take the US it is supposed to be the strongest and the most just government. Yet it seems sometimes artificial in view of the continuing financial and political scandals.
The Saudi Way difficulty is getting it started. Once it started, it become self-running. The Saudi Way start with identifying the wisest, most knowledgeable, most experienced and highest integrity people in society ( Reliable Elite – RE ) and it requires an existing strong ruler. The third leg of the Saudi Way is focus on and promotion of values.
Together they ( the ruler, the RE and a population with high ethics ) they balance each other in good and hard times. The public, because it knows the RE well, it accepts their views and trust it. This has worked for Saudi Arabia well and saved it in hard times. In the early sixties of the last century, when King Saud was no longer able to run the country, RE interfered and together with the ruling family agreed to remove him from power and announce King Faisal as the new king of Saudi Arabia.
In theory, the separation of the 4 powers, Executive, Judicial, Legislative and the Media is the most ideal. But it works only on paper, because it didn't not stop financial and political corruptions and could not save countries from leaders who lie to the people and misuse resources.
We in Saudi Arabia know that the Saudi Way still has its own problems and we need to refine it, but personally, after seeing values collapse and capitalism in crisis, I see more hope in the Saudi Way than Western democracy.
Hamad S Alomar
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
