The Quest for Democracy in Saudi Arabia

This book addresses Saudi Arabia’s aspirations and challenges as they look toward democratic transformation. The book examines the country’s political history, economics, international relations, and the state of freedom and human rights. Research and writing on this topic have expanded widely since 9/11. Many researchers have tried to study Saudi Arabian society, state, politics, and religion to understand some aspects of Saudi Arabia. Still, despite the insistence of this research agenda, the existing literature consists primarily of standalone journal articles scattered across different disciplinary fields. Readers and researchers, therefore, lack a comprehensive, in-depth examination of the challenges and prospects for the possibility of transition toward democracy in Saudi Arabia. There's a rich history of democratic movement in Saudi Arabia that is overlooked and to date not well documented or publicized, which goes against the most common assumption that Saudi Arabia or its citizens are not yet ready for democracy. What can we learn from the achievements and failures of democratic mobilization in Saudi Arabia about the future prospects of democracy? What are the implications and significance of this study's findings on democratic transformation in Saudi Arabia and the region? Why is it important to have a volume that brings together articles and writings on the topic? Our proposed volume, The Quest for Democracy in Saudi Arabia, bridges this gap. By bringing together pioneering scholars on the topic, the book will provide a comprehensive overview of the quest for democracy in Saudi Arabia and its challenges. In so doing, the book makes novel empirical and theoretical contributions to discussions of challenges to democracy in Saudi Arabia, state repression, economy, international relations, and social movements. Given its scope and timeliness, the book will appeal to scholars and practitioners alike, including those who study democracy, authoritarianism, international relations, and studies in the Middle East; political science; sociologists interested in mobilization, civil society, and migration; legal and human rights advocates; and policymakers concerned with democracy and authoritarianism.