Identifying a Society's Weaknesses to Keep Them Under Control

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Jan 4, 2011 at 16:20

There is an enigma, even a paradox that infuses the thinking of the Western mindset when considering the position of Saudi Arabia and how it engages the mentalities of those who would embrace the Saudi's as potential friends in a global sense, while not being able to understand the power that transformed a desert wasteland into a financial powerhouse of world economics. To have an economic partner with the resources at the Saudi's disposal does wonders for the portfolio; but what lies beneath the transitory influences of that kind of wealth when basic motives are not plain to see.

The world knows how the Saudi's have gained their status, for it is burned in the aftermarket of petroleum based commodities systems wide and the price to pay is not quite extortionist; but it is hard to come with another appropriate term. To be sure they are not alone in the power pressure of petroleum economics, but it is also a surety that they are a major influence.

So we speak of influences, and in terms of what the article by Dr. Pipes is exploring, those influences in Saudi Arabia come under another more subtle view of how the Saudi's embrace their role in world society, specifically under the influences of Islam. In that perspective, the Saudi's have a completely different way to conduct their affairs, both internally, and externally, with notable differences from within and without. But in the immediate analysis (made by others and observed by this reader, who is not an expert in such things, but such things can no longer be ignored by the common person), is that there is more to the inner workings of Saudi Arabia's functioning society that has a bearing on how the Saudi's perceive their relationship to the world. Were they to keep such things to themselves, the world would have no need to wonder how to do business in Saudi Arabia-but such is not the case.

The Saudi's exert their influences in subtle ways, and in ways not so furtive. As a matter of course, it is no secret that the world is fueled in great part by the Saudi's greatest export, and that has great influences. One needs only to look at the fueling stations and recognize their portion. Lesser to that are the more sublime exchanges that do not necessarily have monetary value, but they control such things with diligence. For if they fail in that endeavor, there would not be enough of their oil reserves to keep them from falling into the abyss of a lost society like the Ottomans.

The ruling power has indeed recognized that to keep their political posture, they must maintain an orderly societal structure, one that does not tolerate an internal fracturing that would expose them to factionalism, such as might be caused by Shi'a disturbances of the Sunni-guided form of Islam that provides the fundamental strength of the political power. We see in other Islamically influenced governments that such factionalism is a basic reason Islam has not been able to conquer the entire world, yet. In that view, the Saudi's will not countenance the insurgencies found in places like Iraq without resorting to the necessary means to keep and maintain the ruling royal order.

Now we read in Dr. Pipes dissertation of possible changes in the way the interior society of the Saud Kingdom functions, and more specifically how the attitudes of gender are being considered in a 'more tolerant' perspective. In that, by many who have a better scholarship understanding and who have the more conservative reading of Islam, entertaining the idea of elevating the persons of the non-male gender goes specifically and categorically against the Islamically conservative mentality, and tolerance is exquisitely limited. Perhaps, one might liken the situation to the supposed tolerance that the Chinese government held towards democratic reforms, only to have it identified and suppressed.

The Saudi's have power that is envied by many who are jealous of autocratic authority, such as might been seen in Iran in the ayatollahs, or in Syria. As such, they are in a precarious position to keep their status, and make every effort to not lose control. This is no secret. But what is more compelling is that same type of mentality we see in Saudi Arabia is being spread around the world, by the wahhabism school of thought, which is variously reported as being another Saudi export. Then now, Dr. Pipes article needs more scrutiny to see that, if in fact the reactions around the world and in the United States regarding Muslim schools and their support from sources that are Wahhabist in influences are indeed gaining in stature, then a closer eye needs to be used in understanding why the Saudi's function as they do: and Dr. Pipes' closing deserves not merely full attention, but a better posture than what is now being peddled by those who cannot seem to find the right form of apologetics to counter an Islamic way of life.

If another vehicle to understand how this will have worldwide implications greater than now seen, examine the rift that sent Osama bin Laden to the dessert in complete dissention to the Royal Saudi way of life, using that to discern the divergences as described by Dr. Pipes – the monarchical and Taliban versions of Wahhabism. Which would any person from a western culture perspective wish to see imposed on a world society that has left believing the Holy Bible? Anyone?

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