Youth Perspectives on Policy and Economic Participation in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

With the increasing influence of societal and economic transformations guided by Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabian citizens under the age of 30 – who make up almost 70 per cent of the population – are facing rapid and dramatic political and economic changes. This thesis explores their perspectives on political and economic participation and fills a critical scholarly gap in a swiftly evolving sociological and cultural situation. It focuses specifically on the interaction between the Saudi government, which is challenging the longstanding social contract by moving the economy away from oil dependency and encouraging the development of identities beyond the traditional, and young Saudis, who are often well-connected, highly educated, politically aware, less obliged to follow old-fashioned rules, and more in control of their own decisions and destinies.

The thesis is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews carried out with 32 young Saudis, men and women aged 19–29, enrolled as undergraduates at King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh and King Abdul-Aziz University (KAU) in Jeddah. Collected data were thematically analysed using the MAXQDA software programme and divided into three general themes: 1) societal transformations and Saudi national identity, 2) youth empowerment and its related dimensions; and 3) formal and informal political participation. The findings revealed a different narrative from that of official Saudi policymakers, who generally assume that young citizens are passive recipients of government welfare and face no particular economic or political challenges. Instead, it highlights a profound generational shift in expectations and ambitions, which defines emerging patterns of societal order and predicted participation. Vision 2030 and its attendant socio-economic and cultural transformations have likewise created a more modern image of the country, opened doors for new opportunities, and given rise to a renewed discourse of nationalism.