International Relations in Saudi Arabia - Case Study Example

International relations in Saudi Arabia International relations In Saudi Arabia The level of production of any in largely determined by how its citizens enjoy basic human rights. Freedom, justice, peace, security, social welfare and orderliness play the modest role in motivating citizens of a country and even winning the confidence of the foreign states. This goes far beyond to build and enhance supportive relationship with other countries in the world. However, this has not been adequately embraced and cherished by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. So much of the issues that undermine core values in international relations have vividly surfaced. In essence, the essay seeks to expound on how diverse factors in Saudi do impede and curtail the promotion of international relations Security issues Conflicts that threaten to graduate into war do exist in Saudi Arabia. The existences of various anti-governmental groups are the perpetrators of this insecurity. The reasons for low levels of security range from frequent active Protests demanding to air their grievances to the government (Al-Ahmadi 2011). This mainly involves the Shia; that is a minority group in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, cases of violence and use of weapons during effort to quell protests have been reported. The security forces had to deal with armed Protestants in the early protests. Another recent big blow to help fight the war against insecurity in Saudi Arabia surfaced when the government turned down the chance to take up membership in the United Nations Security council. This was after the country being elected to join the ten nonpermanent members of the Security Council. The reason for turning down the seat was unclear and therefore this to some way suggests that the government is unwilling to streamline security issues. Consequently, this scares away the foreign investors as well as the citizens lose confidence in the government. Security is a fundamental requirement for development and it cannot be overlooked by any country willing to match ahead economically. Contrary with Saudi Arabia, we feel that the security is not given priority. This undermines the international core value relations. While the world is advancing with measures to counter insecurity Saudi Arabia in not willing to be part of this prosperous change. Therefore, the future of the country in terms of security is unpredictable although it is likely to fall into more insecurity upsurge. Freedom and positive criticism Individuals, groups, societies and nations enjoy the free will to express themselves and do what they feel is right as long as they are not interfering with other peoples’ rights. Concisely, there exist various forms of freedoms to serve different purposes, but united at the front of promoting well-being. Freedom of speech, ownership of property, fair representation, freedom of mass media and freedom of participation are constituted the vast domain of freedom. When it comes to press freedom, Saudi Arabia tops the list of the countries where there is strict censorship of media. All sources of information are closely analyzed and evaluated by the chief government appointee. This ensures that certain information that can attract the attention of both the citizens and the international community is deliberately decimated. Naturally, the constructive criticism is meant to awaken the sleeping mind and alert it as well of the equally pressing issues it has to work on. Unfortunately, any form of reprimanding is bitterly prohibited by the Saudi Arabia government ( Bjerke & Al-Meer 1993). The misdoings of the government are no supposed to be put on question. This also applies to anything negative to do with the royal family and the religious leaders. Failure to adhere to these regulations a ban can be imposed on a journalist, and even media groups involved phased out. Saudi Arabians do not enjoy full freedom to use the internet due to stern rules that govern the use of internet and social media. Though many countries enjoy free flow of information, it astonishes that Saudi Arabians rely on external sources of information for their country. Concerning the religious inclination of Saudi Arabia, it is rather obvious that the Muslims make the majority of the citizens. However, marriages between Muslims and other religions are still not acceptable even with the changing trends and modernization. It clearly implies that one’s freedom to choose a spouse is severely constricted. The effects are not only limited to the citizens but also to the foreigners (Kauffeldt 2003). One is to marry within the religious boundaries failure to which attracts severe punishment and even death. Without freedom, it becomes even harder to imagine that other indispensable core values exist. Press freedom ensures that every voice is heard, and every issue is tabled at the face of top executive. It goes further to provide updates on progress as well as achievements made. Saudi Arabia has to work on how it deals with freedom generally. People have to be well informed as well as to live knowing that they are free and responsible of their actions. Justice and law enforcement Human beings are entitled to equal and fair treatment regardless of their race, religion, sex, colour and social status. This is one of the sure ways of bringing diversity of cultures together and by extension appreciating and respecting them. Conflicts can also arise if there are unfair treatment and injustices in a society and the country at large. It is, therefore, imperative that justice is not compromised at all. An integrated society is a stable society, and it attracts many nationalities (Kauffeldt 2003). Pride and racial discrimination are rampant among the Saudis even though this is not justified anywhere in the Islamic practices. Other nationalities are considered inferior and are, therefore, mistreated variously. Rejection is channeled to the non-Saudis who are coined to make them miserable as well as desperately submissive. It is also not rare for the Saudis not to honor contracts and promises they make. It is also sad that non-Saudis are not to own any property. Treating other races such as Asians and black people as slaves is still an injustice that the Saudis have continued to uphold. Many cases of house help and workers from other nations being mistreated have rocked the news headlines, for example, house girls being raped and going unpaid for months and even years. Unfavorable working conditions and harsh supervision demean the lives of these workers. This is even made worse by the fact that the Kafala law system encourages slavery and racial exploitation (Jones 2011). There can be as many ways of ensuring that law is observed as there are many nations. However, the human rights and life should not be endangered whatsoever. Dealing appropriately with criminal cases ensures that citizens obey the law and that no such particular incidents are tolerated and repeated. In as much as punishing, law offenders are a sure way of advocating a morally upright society, other forms of punishment are dehumanizing. Beheading, for example, has elicited mixed reaction all over and yet it is being used in Saudi Arabia. Nonviolent offenses such as those involving human rights activists have also been beheaded in Saudi Arabia. This adds to the list of the forty-six (46) cases of the people beheaded in 2014 including Izzat Gul from Pakistan, who was found trafficking drugs in Saudi Arabia. This type of punishment is deeply rooted such that there are special grounds within the country famous for beheading. The Deera Square in Riyadh is a typical example. Furthermore, this shuns away other nationalities from freely moving in Saudi Arabia for fear of inappropriate judicial actions. Consequently, Saudi Arabia is internationally isolated in terms of advocacy for human rights and constantly trailing behind in enjoying cordial relationship with other supportive and developed countries. Welfare It is of utmost importance and keen interest that issues depriving people comfort, peace of mind and enjoyment are sufficiently dealt with. The government is charged with the responsibility to ensuring that laws and regulations are implemented accordingly to promote well-being of its citizens. The Saudi Arabia government however denies its citizens their right to welfare. However, to some extent, it promotes but the large bit remains unfavorable. This government imposes strict rules on any workers organizations. The fundamental principles and rights at work stated by the International Labor Organization (2008) are not enforced in Saudi Arabia. The labor laws do not allow workers to participate actively in trade union activities, as there are dire consequences. Trade unions also do not enjoy freedom in deliberating on their meetings as the governmental officials also attend every meeting. Employee strikes are considered as a last result in addressing their demands provided the strike does not cause property destruction and interfere with the peace. However, strikes and public demonstration are not considered as a means of collective bargaining in Saudi Arabia. Due to the poor means of dealing with workers demand rampant strikes are ever experienced in this country (Madhi & Barrientos , 2003). It also common that the workers have a poor pay, unfavorable work conditions and do not enjoy associated work allowances entitled to them. Child labor, a crime against humanity, is still evident in Saudi Arabia. The most affected are children who are victims of war and more specifically those migrating from foreign countries. Saudi Arabia is still under criticism for not adequately and effectively enforcing the laws that prohibit child labor. The rights of children are not protected and therefore the international laws protecting children are jeopardized. It can also be seen as a form of negligence towards care of children and those vulnerable in society. Work is more rewarding and pleasurable when it is offered through certain criteria such as qualification and the physical fitness that is commensurate to the type of work. More importantly is the willingness of an individual to assume the work. This, in other words, reveals that forced labour in not housed even in the definitions of the International Labour Organization. The form of labour exists in Saudi Arabia. It is not to the ignorance of the government, but it is out of the laxity and complacency of the government of the day. Many domestic workers in Arabia unwillingly work is due to intimidation and threats offered by their employees. Confinement is also used to ensure that work is done. Rest after work is rejuvenating although in Saudi Arabia most workers do not rest (Madhi & Barrientos , 2003). They work extra hours that do not even attract pay. Gender and sexism Gender is culturally defined dynamic. It, therefore, means that roles played by men and women are socially constructed and are bound to change with time. The fact that gender differences exist provides no leeway for injustices instead the uniqueness should be a unifying factor towards achieving equality. However, male chauvinism exists in Saudi Arabia. It has led to women being sidelined and discriminated as an inferior gender (Al-Ahmadi 2011). Women encounter many barriers in seeking for formal employment, whereas those in jobs receive dissatisfying wages. It is also true that many cases of sexual harassment occur but go unreported. In January 2010, a woman was sentenced to serious flogging and two years in prison for filing an attempted case and for not being accompanied by a male partner in the government offices. This succinctly brings to the surface women shoulder all the blames even when there are no means to justify. Furthermore, women tend to occupy low-skilled works and the ones that have a poor pay. It is also noted that women are separated from men in terms of departmentation. The country has enough resources to empower women but chooses to ignore this sensitive issue. Equality and equity being among the core values are scaled down by the poor laws in Saudi Arabia. Resource allocation The national budget serves to ensure the resources are equitably distributed in all sectors putting into consideration geographical locations of a particular country or state. Analysis is done prior to allocation of fund and areas of need are determined. This to a larger extend helps alleviate poverty. Saudi Arabia dominates oil exportation in the world, but poverty levels are still alarming. Unemployment too is another warm in the apple of development of this nation. It is ironical that in the same country there are people with extreme riches and expensive and posh mansions (Rice 2004). The rift between the rich and the poor is discouraging. Funny enough the government is unwilling to expose this inequality, it is also aware that most Saudis live under the poverty line. Though the country is economically stable, not much effect of welfare programs has been realized. A young, energetic and productive population remains unemployed. It modestly contributes to poverty menace. Most significantly, there are more dependents than producers in this oil-rich country. With the stable financial and economic status, a country must emancipate itself from the chains of poverty. However, the Saudis have not benefited much from the vast wealth of oil field as expected due to ineffective government policies. The rich and powerful minorities in this country contain most of the resources and economic power. This is regardless of the universal call that there should be equal distribution of wealth over the population . The government has overlooked the needs of the common citizens who are the majority, leaving them to languish in poverty. It is also discouraging that the government is reluctant to release official reports about poverty level and openly denies claims of poverty in Riyadh. This is against the expectations of the international community that there is suffering even in the booming of the economy. Civil unrest peace instability Frequent misunderstandings and conflicts of interest in many countries often cause a state of tension and deprives people of a peaceful environment both socially and economically. The most notorious issues associated with unrest emanate from political under-representation, and poor resource allocation as well as marginalization of minority groups (Montagu 2010). The Saudi Arabian government has failed to streamline civil unrest adequately. Oppression has attracted protests as well as biased allocation of national oil resources. The military forces have been employed in quelling the uprising demonstrations; the end results have been violence, cases of fatality and even mortality reported. The recent deaths of two police officers have made the government render all violent demonstrators as terrorists (Hua et al. 2013). Many lives can be lost in case this issue is not properly managed. It is the duty of the government to protect its subjects and bring peace without unnecessary loss of life. In the struggle to command power and gain control, both the government and the activists pose a serious threat to the existence of peace and harmony (Zuhur, 2011). It is important to bear in mind that peace forms the centrality of all core values. This is because with peace all other values can be realized by any country. Now with the violation of this paramount value in Saudi Arabia it becomes evident that the concept of core values is minimally applied (Hegghammer 2006). In summation, all issues elicited above; insecurity, violation of human rights and inequalities make Saudi Arabia a country that upholds little international requirements for core values. The government though with the capacity to make the situations favorable chooses to stay back and watch evil in society instigated. Reference list Bjerke, B., & Al-Meer, Abdulrahim. (1993). Culture’s Consequences: Management in Saudi Arabia. Leadership & Organization Development Journal. doi:10.1108/01437739310032700 Madhi , S. T., & Barrientos , Armando . (2003). Saudisation and employment in Saudi Arabia. Career Development International. doi:10.1108/13620430310465471 Al-Ahmadi, H. (2011). Challenges facing women leaders in Saudi Arabia. Human Resource Development International. doi:10.1080/13678868.2011.558311 Hegghammer, T. (2006). Terrorist recruitment and radicalization in Saudi Arabia. Middle East Policy. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4967.2006.00269.x Hua, T., Lu, C. T., Ramakrishnan, N., Chen, F., Arredondo, J., Mares, D., & Summers, K. (2013). Analyzing civil unrest through social media. Computer, 46, 80–84. doi:10.1109/MC.2013.442 Jones, T. C. (2011). Saudi Arabia versus the Arab spring. Raritan, 31, 43–59. Kauffeldt, J. (2003). A History of Saudi Arabia. History: Reviews of New Books. doi:10.1080/03612759.2003.10527953 Montagu, C. (2010). Civil Society and the Voluntary Sector in Saudi Arabia. The Middle East Journal. doi:10.3751/64.1.14 Rice, G. (2004). Doing business in Saudi Arabia. Thunderbird International Business Review, 46, 59–84. doi:10.1002/tie.10106 Zuhur, S. (2011). Saudi Arabia. Santa Barbara, Calif, ABC-CLIO. Read More