Saudi Islamists and the Arab Spring

Abstract

The Arab Spring has had little visible impact on Saudi Arabia, except in the EasternProvince, where relatively large Shia protests were met with deadly repression.However, it would be a mistake to think that the revolutionary events taking place in theArab world did not spur debate in the remaining segments of Saudi society. SunniIslamists were at the forefront of the debate, as they saw 'comrades' of the sameideological orientation participating in revolutions and seizing power throughout theregion. Most of them agreed that Saudi Arabia needed change, although they wouldquickly disagree on the nature and the extent of it. Still, a significant rapprochementtook place in 2011 and 2012 between Islamists of all backgrounds and non-Islamistpolitical activists around the issue of political reform and the fate of political prisoners.Yet this was short-lived. By 2012, fundamental disagreements on social issues werepulling Islamists and liberals apart, as had been the case since the 1990s. Politicaldissent remained, but on a smaller scale. This did not stop the Saudi government fromtaking drastic measures against the Kingdom's Islamists, especially after the summer of2013.