As the Arab world’s newly post-autocratic societies stumble towards economic opportunity and political reform, violence in both Libya and Syria is taking the gloss off the early successes of the Arab spring. But behind both these crises lies an even more serious long-term problem: the west’s unquestioning support for the region’s hydrocarbon dinosaur, Saudi Arabia.
Stuck in the past – economically, politically and theologically – support for the kingdom remains solid in western corridors of power. Despite being the world’s largest oil producer and the linchpin of Opec, Saudi Arabia itself also still relies on the west to help it mute critics of its dismal human rights record, growing anti-Shia policies and export of intolerant religious doctrines.
The reward for tolerating such behaviour is obvious: Saudi oil and natural gas, in large quantities and at reasonable prices. The Saudis also buy western weapons, technological gadgetry and consumer goods, from toothpicks to air defence systems. Yet while this conflict between the public values and private interests of the west regarding Saudi Arabia is not new, growing popular Arab demands for freedom are making the position increasingly untenable.