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Chapter Ii Foreign Policy Foundation of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia Relations with Several International Organizations

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Chapter Ii Foreign Policy Foundation of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia Relations with Several International Organizations CHAPTER II FOREIGN POLICY FOUNDATION OF SAUDI ARABIA AND SAUDI ARABIA RELATIONS WITH SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS This chapter discusses the foreign policy foundation of Saudi Arabia including the general introduction about the State of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia political system, the ruling family, Saudi’s Arabia foreign policy. This chapter also discusses the Saudi Arabia relations with several international organizations. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a country that has many roles, well in the country of the Arabian Peninsula as well as the global environment. The country that still adhere this royal system reserves and abundant oil production as the supporter, the economy of their country then make the country to be respected by the entire of international community. Regardless of the reason, Saudi Arabia also became the Qibla for Muslims around the world because there are two of the holiest city which is Mecca and Medina, at once the birth of Muslim civilization in the era of Prophet Muhammad SAW. A. Geography of Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a country located in Southwest Asia, the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula, bordering with the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, as well as Northern Yemen. The extensive coastlines in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea provide a great influence on shipping (especially crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and the Suez Canal. The Kingdom occupies 80 percent of the Arabian Peninsula. Estimates of the Saudi government are at 2,217,949 15 square kilometres, while other leading estimates vary between 2,149,690 and 2,240,000 kilometres. Picture 2.1: Map of Saudi Arabia Sources: Hunt, K. (2017, Juli 27). The Middle East freezes out Qatar: What you need to know. Retrieved October 26, 2018, from CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/06/middleeast/s audiarabia-middle-east-diplomatic- freeze/index.html Saudi Arabia is an Arab country that located on the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia is located between the 150NLat and 340ELon-570ELon. The territory of Saudi Arabia covers four fifths of the Arabian Peninsula and is in a strategic location which extending from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia is a land area of 2,240,350 square kilometers. The population of Saudi Arabia that is reached 30,770.375 soul, with a intensiveness of 12.3 square kilometers (Saleh, 2010). Saudi Arabia directly bordering with Jordan (Northwest), Iraq, Kuwait (North), Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Oma (East), and Yemen (South) and the Red Sea. (Muhammad, 2018) The country of Saudi Arabia covers almost the entire region of the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia also has 16 two other famous cities especially in Islamic civilization such as Mecca and Medina. The majority population of Saudi Arabia is came from among the Arabs. Although there are also has the population who come from descendants of other nations. The population of Saudi Arabia is fully Muslim. (Central Intelligence Agency, 2018) The state of Saudi Arabia is consist of 13 regions that includes Mintaqah, Al-Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah (Medina), Al-Qasim, Ar-Riyadh (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah, ‘Asir, Ha’il, Jazan, Makkah Al Mukarramah (Mecca), Najran and Tabuk. (Central Intelligence Agency, 2018). Riyadh is one of the biggest and largest cities in Saudi. It is the centre of government, politics, economy, and also a place for all of the embassies from all countries around the world that conduct diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy state the head and Prime Minister of the states is Salman Bin Abd- Aziz bin Al-Saud (King). King Salman is the head of state and represents the country internally, externally and in all international relations. The King Salman of Saudi Arabia also become the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, which is supervised by the assistance of Defences council, and regulate under his power. Islam is one of the official religion that embraced by most of the people in the country. But, there are several religious minorities such as Jews, Christian, Hindu, Buddha, and other religion. Most of the religions are embraced by the expatriates, workers, and other community that already lived in Saudi Arabia. (Long, 1990) According to Saudi Arabia’s constitution, sharia law is the main source of the Saudi Arabia legislation and it 17 has been implemented since this country was established in 1932. Oil and natural gas are the main source of Saudi Arabia which gives much more contribution to the economic sectors. However, the government of Saudi Arabia are currently developing other sectors such as banking and services. These new sectors are aimed to reduce the dependence of state revenue on oil and natural gas production. Therefore, the country can provide many opportunities for citizens to get a job as well as fostering the investment within the country. B. Saudi Arabia Political System Saudi Arabia is a country in the form of Kingdom. The system of government in Saudi Arabia is a monarchy absolute. The word of monarchy is comes from Greece “monos” which means one and “archein” which means government. Monarchy is a type of government was led by a ruler. The government of Saudi Arabia is included in the system of governance of the absolute monarchy. Absolute monarchy is a form of government that gives the highest government authority to the King as the head of state and head of government. (Wynbrandt, 2004) A country in generally always have a script is referred to as the constitution or the basic of law. All the constitutions always makes the power as the centre of attention, because power itself in essence really needs to be regulated and restricted accordingly. Therefore, the limitation of powers are generally considered to be the common pattern is a constitutional material. The enactment of a constitution as the basic law that ties based on the highest authority or principle of sovereignty adopted in a country. If the prevailing doctrine of the sovereignty is the idea of the King, then 18 the King determines whether or not a valid constitution. (Harwanto, 1995) Saudi Arabia does not have a constitution as a state. Constitution of Saudi Arabia is Al-Qur’an as the main source of sharia. However, in 1992 when King Fahd become the King of Saudi Arabia is the first who compile the rules into a single document that called Nizham Al-Asasi lil Hukmi as The Basic Law of Government. Although An Nizham Al-Asasi lil Hukmi is not a formal constitution. (Nolte, 1965) The basic Law of the government of Saudi Arabia then regulate the system of this government, the rights and responsibilities of government and citizens. An - Nizham al - Asasi lil Hukmi year 1992 that consist of 83 article which is divided into 9 sections, namely: 1) General Principles 2) The System of Government 3) Community Members on Saudi Arabia 4) The Principles of Economics 5) The Rights and Obligations 6) The State Power 7) Financial Affairs 8) The Authority of Control and Auditing 9) General Statues Saudi Arabia adheres to the system of absolute monarchy with the King as head of government and state, the monarchy is a system of government that headed by the King as the ultimate power, where holders in all policy making is in the hands of the King. The King of Saudi Arabia occupies almost all important positions in the government including political and economics. The King also became the origin of authority for any existing political institutions in Saudi Arabia, even for the judicial institution. The King of 19 Saudi Arabia also has a role as head of state, prime minister, commander in chief of the armed forces, the custodian of the two holy places (Mecca and Medina), lifting and removing the council of ministers, as well as to interpret the laws of Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia there is no general election to elect the King and there are no political parties. Even if there is only to choose the leader of the legislative and judicial institutions which are also determined by the King. (Faisal, 2013) The Council of Minister or Cabinet, Prime Minister, and Six Supreme councils are led by the King. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are appointed by the King of Saudi Arabia. All activities and the states policies that run by both Prime Minister and Cabinet are based on the King’s decree. All resignations only happened if there is a command from the King of Saudi. The session of the Council of Ministers will be chaired and supervised by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has an obligation to maintain the coordination between different ministries in order to achieve unity and integration among all government branches. The Prime Minister will also sign the resolutions issued by the council. The formation of the cabinet is formed by King’s decree and contextualize into the proposal of the Prime Minister. The ministers and government departments have specific responsibilities and authorities under the law of Saudi Arabia. The Council of Minister holds the mandate as the supreme executive authority in Saudi and has a specific objective to monitor all external and internal affairs within its jurisdiction in accordance to the law and the provision of the constitution. In addition, in order to run all the activities of government, all the government bodies should act based on the command of the King. In the Saudi Arabia’s 20 government system, the King holds the highest position in governing the states. The current King of Saudi Arabia is King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud who is the holder of the ultimate power in Saudi Arabia.
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