Can Saudi Arabia prevent a 'day of rage'?
Activists plan to press for political and social reforms on Friday. Will the House of Saud face an uprising like the ones that have rattled the region?
Saudi Arabia's royal family is pulling out all the stops to prevent Friday's scheduled "day of rage" from exploding. Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal warned that protests are not allowed, and urged reform advocates to embrace "the principle of dialogue," not revolt. To be on the safe side, the government has moved thousands of extra troops to potential hot spots. Will this be enough to avert an uprising? (Watch a Fox News discussion about the "day of rage")
No. Brace for chaos: Saudi Arabia, which permits zero dissent, is "the most tyrannical authoritarian regime in the Arab world," says Eric Blair at Hamsayeh. Even King Abdullah's "hastily-crafted $35 billion social aid package" failed to quiet "the revolutionary whispers" that have sent Saudi stocks plummeting and oil prices soaring, on fears that chaos will disrupt shipments of Saudi crude. It looks to many analysts like "the Saudi regime is the next to fall."
"Why is Hillary not defending the rights of Saudi protesters?"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The rage will be limited: Saudi Arabia won't see anything like the outbursts of anger in neighboring Egypt and Bahrain, says Saud Kabli, a political commentator for the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan, as quoted by VOA News. Leading activists and businessmen are calling for sweeping political and social reforms, but they lack a "coherent vision." There will be supporters "here and there" for the "day of rage," but it will be a long time before the movement reaches critical mass.
"Analysts: Saudi Arabia nervous about domestic discontent"
Plus, any uprising would be crushed: If you're expecting a "full-blown revolution," think again, says Michael Snyder at The Economic Collapse. Saudi Arabia has "a very, very long history of denying even the most basic freedoms to the people." If it takes brutality to keep a lid on the unrest, the royal family won't hesitate. "If you plan on being a revolutionary in Saudi Arabia you had better put your big boy pants on, because the Saudis play hardball."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why more and more adults are reaching for soft toys
Under The Radar Does the popularity of the Squishmallow show Gen Z are 'scared to grow up'?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Magazine solutions - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published