There’s been a lot of discussion in the blogosphere, particularly since the publication of this London Times article, about American policy towards Saudi Arabia. Many commentators have expressed confusion about the right approach to dealing with the Saudis in the context of the war on terror – do we coddle, poke, or threaten them? Dave Schuler, at The Glittering Voice, grapples with this question and decides that there are no good options: “The options for dealing with the [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] are extremely limited.” Schuler suggests that there is no military solution and that using economic pressure could prove problematic.
But not everyone agrees with Schuler’s pessimistic assessment. Just in time to weigh in on this debate, Shadi Hamid and Stephen McInerney of the Project on Middle East Democracy have written a well-timed article for The New Republic Online that represents an important contribution to this discussion. American policy towards Saudi Arabia should be based primarily on encouraging the transition to a more representative government, they argue. Pushing for democratic reform in Saudi Arabia would be the most effective way of undercutting radical Islam and securing our interests in the region. They also note that the recent Gulf arms deal provides an important opening for such an effort:
Empirical studies increasingly point to the lack of democracy as a key cause of terrorism. Drawing on the findings of their important 2003 study of terrorist attacks, Princeton’s Alan Krueger and Czech scholar Jitka Malecková noted that “the only variable that was consistently associated with the number of terrorists was the Freedom House index of political rights and civil liberties.”
…America can leverage its support to shape Arab regimes’ decisions on democratization. This is particularly true for the ruling al-Saud family, which is intimately tied to the U.S. and dependent on its military backing. The arms deal presents an opportunity for Washington to exert influence in Riyadh. This opening should be seized to push the Saudis along the path of reform, the only path that will lead to long-term security. We have leverage, and we should use it.
Hamid and McInerney go on to argue the following:
First, all arms sales should be contingent on the implementation of the promised educational and judicial reforms. Second, the United States should require progress on political reform, beginning with greater freedoms of press and assembly, and allowing public dissent on policy matters. Beyond this, deadlines should be set for long-awaited Shura (Consultative) Council elections, followed by benchmarks for the steady evolution of the council from an advisory role to a genuine legislative body. Third, transparency and fairness in the justice system, even when dealing with terror suspects, should be required.
For those who are interested, the full article is here.