The Role of Economic Reforms in Consolidating Neopatrimonialism in Saudi Arabia from the Conflict Theory Point of View

Mohammadi, Mohammad Reza; Barzegar, Kayhan; Ghaderi, Nafiseh Al-Sadat

doi:10.22034/igq.2025.467598.1920

The Role of Economic Reforms in Consolidating Neopatrimonialism in Saudi Arabia from the Conflict Theory Point of View

نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی

نویسندگان

Mohammad Reza Mohammadi ¹

Kayhan Barzegar ¹

Nafiseh Al-Sadat Ghaderi ²

¹ Department of International Relations, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

² Department of Political Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22034/igq.2025.467598.1920

چکیده

This article employs the theoretical framework of the conflict school to examine the role of economic reforms in consolidating neopatrimonialism in Saudi Arabia. The central hypothesis of the article is that the recent initiatives of Mohammed bin Salman, particularly through the Vision 2030 document, aimed at adapting the Saudi political system to internal and external changes, maintaining stability and continuity of the regime, and centralizing power in his hands, have contributed to the consolidation of neopatrimonialism in the country. While these economic and social reforms ostensibly aim to modernize Saudi Arabia's economy and society, they effectively function as tools to reinforce traditional power structures and solidify the dominance of the Al Saud family, particularly Mohammed bin Salman himself. By analyzing available data and recent political-economic trends in Saudi Arabia, the article addresses the question of how economic reforms have contributed to the consolidation of neopatrimonialism and what implications this has for the country's power structure. The findings reveal that these reforms, while creating superficial changes in the economy and society, act as mechanisms to preserve and strengthen the patrimonial system and perpetuate the dominance of the ruling elite.

کلیدواژه‌ها

Saudi Arabia

Political Stability

Authoritarian Bargain

Rentierism

Neopatrimonialism

موضوعات

ژئوپلیتیک

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