Arab News
MOHAMMED FAHAD
Saudi Arabia is on a new trajectory of growth. The new vision outlines the future of the country. This week, the Kingdom revealed its post-oil plans and introduced a clear road map for its future. That road map prepares for change in a new Saudi Arabia in line with modern times. It has the potential for not only economic achievements but also political, social and military ones.
Saudi Arabia’s road map for the future will see it transformed from a state dependent on oil to a productive country with diversified sources of income. It is clear that this vision sets a path which will reduce wasteful government spending and raise the level of productivity.
Mistaken are those who see this transformation only from the economic side as it is in fact a comprehensive vision for the country in the post-oil era. This calls for structural, economic and social changes, and it is evident that society is preparing for this transformation because it is the only choice available that guarantees the stability of the state and the well-being of future generations.
Such changes require strong policies and decisions and decisive leadership in order to explain and manage the transformation; it is only natural that there will be resistance as human beings are by nature against change and anything that is new or unfamiliar.
Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also chairs the Council of Economic and Developmental Affairs, introduced the Vision 2030 on Monday. It is a comprehensive vision for the future and it focuses on specific targets and figures. It aims to find and create new concepts that require raising the level of productivity and transitioning to a new phase characterized by new thought. The deputy crown prince sees that society is expected to increase productivity, and he acknowledges that, without a doubt, women are one-half of society, and there is a need to increase the productivity of that half as well.
Certainly social change has an important role in any society seeking to improve itself. This change goes with establishing the idea of a civil state and increasing education and training so that Saudi skills and capabilities become one of the strengths of the national economy. No doubt the concept of the rentier state will remain for a while in Saudi culture, but the concept has created barriers to the state’s advancement. The result has been vast unemployment and a limited role for half of society; societies that run at half-capacity are unable to compete fully in the global market.
Discussions about social change are centered around development and modernization. The change is driven and led by the state in order to guarantee peaceful social change. Our leaders who have a long-term vision understand the nature of the people, their requirements, and the preparations needed for each stage. The Kingdom is entering a new phase in the history of its development and growth, and social change will be in line with the pillars of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah. This fact was emphasized by the Saudi leadership in its meetings with various groups of society.
Social change is associated with political, developmental and community actions. Those who have been monitoring Saudi society in recent years are aware of the tremendous changes because of the revolution in communications, the spread of education and the availability of scholarships as well as interaction with foreign communities in the Kingdom. These factors, among others, have created a new reality in Saudi society. As Anthony D. Smith wrote in his book on the concept of social change, “Change, be it social or historical, is so all encompassing that it is difficult to fully study, grasp and understand. This creates a sort of ambiguity that makes it difficult to reach a unique definition of social change.”
Nonetheless, social change is part of all societies and has been throughout history; its impressive results and outcomes vary depending on the community, the nature of the culture and people’s ways of thinking in addition to the context. This change gives birth to new societal values, structures and interpersonal connections. Changes also occur in the internal structure of society and sometimes clashes may occur due to the rapid speed of change and the emergence of different ways of thinking; this is of course the natural way of historical development.
Today, Saudi Arabia’s voice has become stronger and clearer than ever, and its decisions critical when it comes to benefiting and protecting its people. In order to guarantee these, the Kingdom launched Operation Decisive Storm and formed the Islamic Military Coalition to counter terrorism. We are an influential country in the G-20, and that is why we anticipate entering a new phase, not only economically but also socially and politically.
Saudi society has matured in its evolution and development as was described by the writer Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Gharib in his book on social and cultural change in which he used practical examples from Saudi society. He writes that amid these cultural changes emerges the importance of reform in society, and he calls for the establishment of organizations to manage the reform process and guarantee its success in all aspects. He also advocates periodic evaluation and strategic planning as a “feature of civil societies.” He also confirms the importance of having a clear long-term vision based on what we want for society, and one that includes a methodology for use over several generations unaffected by any temporal or unexpected changes.
Saudi Arabia in the era of King Salman is enforcing a new rhythm with a loud and well-heard voice. This is true not only in its foreign policy and international relations, but also in the ambitions for tremendous growth that Saudis can translate into reality. As the force behind this project, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, rightfully said: “There are great qualifications among Saudi youth that simply need the chance and opportunity to be shown, and it appears with the announcement of Vision 2030, the opportunity has arrived.”
