SAUDI ARABIA'S NATIONAL SECURITY: A PERSPECTIVE DERIVED FROM POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND DEFENSE POLICIES

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the impact of external factors upon the national security of Saudi Arabia. Three main factors affect Saudi national security: economic, political, and military factors. Each of these three factors can both benefit or harm Saudi Arabia, depending on the method by which Saudi Arabia conducts and directs its policies. Hence, the main question that the study addresses is, what are the future prospects of Saudi Arabia's national security, within the context of regional and international political changes and developments? To determine an answer, the dissertation analyzes the relationship of Saudi Arabia and regional states, on the one hand, and between Saudi Arabia and international states and the superpowers, on the other.;The dissertation is organized into three parts. Part One presents the direction of Saudi foreign policy from the establishment of the kingdom until the present. This policy has always aimed at serving the state's security, prosperity, and development. Saudi oil policies and development strategy as factors inextricably connected to Saudi national security are discussed. Part Two traces Saudi Arabia's role in and reaction to regional crises and disputes. This section also identifies Saudi Arabia's stand on the ideological differences of the regional states. Part Three deals with Saudi Arabia's relationship to and view of the two superpowers and the degree to which their policies and activities in the region affect Saudi national security. In addition, information concerning Saudi defense forces and armaments is presented. A conclusion and assessment addresses the central issue of the future prospects of Saudi national security. Some (non-military) recommendations that might help strengthen Saudi national security in the long-run are included.;The approach adopted in this research is primarily analytical; the work identifies the principles of and attitudes toward Saudi foreign policy in the last half a century and then identifies the Saudi attitudes and reaction to regional conflicts, disputes, and ideological differences that involved Saudi security. Concern with historical data is basically derived from the need to predict the future trends of Saudi Arabia's national security.