Browsing by Author "Abuhasabo, Sama Khalil"

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POLITICAL REFORMS AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
(Florida Atlantic University, 2024-12-16) Abuhasabo, Sama Khalil; Rabil, Robert G
The Arabian Peninsula was under the influence of the Ottoman Empire from 1517 until its collapse in 1918. During this time, three attempts were made to establish a Saudi state, the last of which began in 1902 and ended with the unification of the third Saudi State in 1932. During this period, three Saudi States were formed. The first Saudi State was established in 1745 when the al-Diriyah Agreement was introduced. This landmark agreement was achieved when Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud formed an alliance with Sheikh Mohammed Ibn Abdul Wahhab, a religious and rebellious man who advocated for the pure interpretation of Islamic principles. This alliance enabled Ibn Saud to govern the state, but he left the religious and cultural aspects of the society under the authority of Ibn Abdul Wahhab. As a result, throughout centuries, the religious establishment has greatly influenced the affairs of all three Saudi States. However, following the seizure of the Grand Mosque by religious zealots in 1979, Saudi Arabia underwent changes that viii radicalized the religious establishment, causing myriad detrimental effects for Saudi women. Oppressed by the weight of unfair laws and obstacles, Saudi women challenged the status quo and fought for equal rights through various methods. While King Abdullah al-Saud introduced some reforms, more significant change was still to come. After King Abdullah’s death, King Salman and his son Mohammed Bin Salman—the Crown Prince and Prime Minster—initiated a series of sweeping reforms under the Vision 2030 initiative to empower women, diversify the economy, and modernize the Kingdom of Saudi. Some key aspects of these reforms were abolishing the Male Guardianship System and removing the ban on women’s driving. This dissertation explores the sociopolitical reforms in Saudi Arabia, culminating with Vision 2030 and their impact on Saudi culture. Through vivid narratives and compelling examples, it offers a nuanced perspective and sheds light on the challenges and opportunities that have resulted from these reforms, particularly through the lens of Saudi women’s experiences. Ultimately, this dissertation demonstrates that Saudi Arabia’s moving away from the extreme religious principles that emerged after 1979, dismantling of the Male Guardianship System, and lifting of the ban on Saudi women driving have all positively impacted the day-to-day lives of Saudi women as well as Saudi society as a whole.
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