مع الأحداث المتسارعة في الإقليم، وبالأخص في العقدين الماضيين، يتساءل الكثير: هل تغيّر السعوديون؟ هل غيّروا من أولوياتهم؟ في الحقيقة إن السعوديين لم يتغيّروا، بل السياسات الدولية تغيّرت، والقوى تغيّرت، والأخطار تغيّرت، ولأن السعوديين أبناء الجزيرة العربية وعاشوا طوال تاريخهم في بواديها وجبالها وسهولها، وهي التي زرعت في وجدانهم واقعية التعامل مع أخطارها وصعوباتها ومفاجآتها، لذلك هم أكثر من في الإقليم واقعية وتأقلماً مع التغيّرات، بل يسبقون الأخطار دائماً بخطوة، وإلا لما صمدوا في تلك الظروف الجغرافية والمناخية الصعبة.
لقد شكّلت المملكة العربية السعودية طوال المئة عام الماضية من تاريخ دولتها الثالثة «عقيدة سياسية» ثابتة وصلبة، تحطّمت على أسوارها الكثير من محاولات إزاحتها أو تغييرها، سواء عبر التآمر أو حتى الحروب المباشرة.
بنى الملك عبد العزيز -رحمه الله- أساسًا متينًا لتلك العقيدة السياسية، كان من بواكيرها الحياد التام في أهم صراع في تاريخ البشرية -الحرب العالمية الثانية-، وفي الوقت نفسه كان الملك الذي أخذ على عاتقه استعادة مُلك آبائه، عمليًا ومقاربًا لحلف خارجي كان يرفض الاستبداد العسكري، ولذلك كان الملك عبدالعزيز أول قائد وزعيم يلتقيه المنتصرون في الحرب –روزفلت وتشرشل– لأن المملكة الناشئة ملكها الكبير استطاع أن يؤسّس لبلاده دورًا مستقبليًا في قيادة العالم استمر حتى اليوم.
دعونا نلخّص أبرز ملامح العقيدة السياسية في تعريفها العلمي، وهي:
«مجموعة المبادئ والتوجهات الأساسية التي تُوجّه سلوك الدولة في الشأنين الداخلي والخارجي، وتشكّل الإطار الذهني لصانع القرار في تفسير التهديدات، وتحديد الأولويات، وبناء التحالفات، ورسم السياسات الاستراتيجية على المدى الطويل».
ولعلنا نلخّص هنا أبرز ملامح العقيدة السياسية السعودية التي بناها المؤسس الملك عبدالعزيز، واستمر عليها أبناؤه الملوك من بعده حتى اليوم، مع التأكيد على أن كل ملك أدار دولته بما تستوجبه الظروف، ولكن ضمن الإطار السياسي السعودي الثابت.
أولًا: السيادة الكاملة:
حرص السعوديون في كل مناسبة ومحفل على التأكيد على استقلال القرار السعودي دون خضوع لمحاور دولية أو تنظيمات عابرة، مهما كانت الضغوط أو المخاطر. فقد أثبت السعوديون طوال قرن أنهم محايدون بارعون.
ثانيًا: البراغماتية الواقعية:
تقديم المصالح الوطنية والاقتصادية على الأيديولوجيا أو التحالفات التقليدية، مهما كانت الضغوط الشعبوية أو الخارجية، أو الاستنزاف الذي تمارسه القوى في الإقليم أو خارجه. وهناك الكثير من التجارب؛ فالسعوديون لم ينجرفوا مع الخطابات الثورية، ولا اليسارية والاشتراكية، ولا الليبرالية المنحرفة.
ثالثًا: التحول التنموي:
كانت وما زالت السياسة الخارجية والداخلية توجَّه لخدمة التنمية والتعليم وتطوير المجتمع المحلي كهدف استراتيجي شامل، وهو ما أثمر عن دولة عصرية متعلمة استطاعت اختصار الزمن. فمن يتذكر مدرسة البعثات التي أُسِّست في عهد الملك عبدالعزيز، لا بد أن يربطها ببرنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث.
رابعًا: تنويع الشراكات الدولية:
عملت الرياض على توثيق العلاقات مع قوى كبرى موجودة أو قادمة (أمريكا، الاتحاد الأوروبي، الصين، روسيا، الهند، البرازيل، جنوب أفريقيا)، وعدم الارتهان لطرف واحد.
خامسًا: ترسيخ القيادة العربية والإسلامية:
كون السعودية هي أرض العروبة، وفي مرابعها خرجت اللغة العربية، وفيها مهبط الوحي، ومنها انطلق أجداد السعوديين من صحابة وتابعين، فقد وضعت المملكة العربية السعودية وملوكها وأجهزتها كل إمكاناتها من أجل خدمة الحرمين الشريفين، وتأهيل المشاعر المقدسة لاستقبال مئات الملايين من الحجاج والمعتمرين والزائرين. كل ذلك جعل من السعودية قائدة للعالم الإسلامي المعتدل، ورسّخت الإسلام كقوة معتبرة في العالم.
أما ما يخص عالمها العربي، فقد كانت الأكثر حرصًا على الأمن العربي ومنع أي تدخل في شؤونه من قوى إقليمية أو دولية، وبقيت ترفع شعارًا طبّقته بدقة: «شؤون العرب للعرب»، ولذلك سقط على أسوارها الكثير من المشاريع العابرة التي أرادت تحطيم الفضاء العربي.
سادسًا: محاربة الإرهاب واستخدام العقائد والأديان لتبرير العنف:
لقد كان السعوديون في مقدمة محاربي الإرهاب ورفض التنظيمات الدينية التي تستخدم السياسة والدين لتبرير القتل والعنف، ولا تزال المملكة من أكثر الدول مساهمة في الحرب على الإرهاب والقضاء على منابعه.
سابعًا: تثبيت الهوية الوطنية:
قام السعوديون بجهود واضحة في التركيز المطلق على الهوية السعودية الجامعة، بدلًا من أي هوية عرقية أو إقليمية أو أيديولوجية تُفرّق ولا تجمع، والارتقاء بهويتهم السعودية لتكون مرجعية عليا حصرية.
ثامنًا: بناء قوة إقليمية رادعة:
كلما ذُكر التسليح السعودي، لا بد من التذكير بالأواكس، والـ F15، وصواريخ رياح الشرق، وبطاريات الباتريوت التي وصلت للسعودية على مدى سنوات من الجهد العسكري الصلب، وصولًا إلى ما قبل أيام عندما بدأ تركيب بطاريات صواريخ «ثاد»، الأحدث في منظومات الدفاع الجوي. لم يكن ذلك إلا لبناء منظومة عسكرية وتكنولوجية ممتدة تفرض معادلة الردع السعودي في إقليم مليء بالفشل والحروب.
تاسعًا: تحييد القوى الإقليمية المحاربة للسعودية دون مواجهة مباشرة:
لم تكن السعودية في حاجة لمواجهة مباشرة مع أحد، فالحكمة السياسية ضالتها التي لطالما تبنتها واتبعتها في علاقاتها مع الإقليم أو خارجه، من خلال استخدام أدوات متعددة (الحوار، التحالفات، الاقتصاد، وأخيرًا الردع غير المباشر) لاحتواء أي تهديد.
عاشرًا: أولوية الاستقرار الداخلي:
أدرك السعوديون مبكرًا أن التنمية هي أساس الاستقرار، وأن احتكار السلطة والمال والمعرفة مفسدة أيّما مفسدة، ولذلك عملوا بجهد على إشراك جميع مواطنيهم من خلال توزيع الثروة عبر الصناديق والمنح والوظائف، وتمكين القطاع الخاص، ونشر العلم والمعرفة بشكل واسع، حتى تم القضاء على الأمية تمامًا.
ومنذ أرسل الملك عبدالعزيز ابنه الملك فيصل إلى موسكو بدايات العهد السعودي، وابنه الملك سعود إلى أمريكا، ومستشاريه الآخرين ليجوبوا عواصم العالم المتقدم –حينها– بحثًا عن تكنولوجيا أو مشاريع تعمّر الإنسان والأرض وتَجلب المياه، كانت الدولة السعودية، ممثلة في ملوكها، تدرك أن التنمية الاقتصادية والتعليمية والاجتماعية في الداخل أولوية قصوى، بدلًا من التورط في مغامرات خارجية، وهو أمر استنزف دولًا أخرى عملت على نشر أفكارها أو عقائدها على حساب شعوبها.
وهنا يبرز سؤال مهم: هل تغيّرت العقيدة السياسية السعودية خلال العقدين الأخيرين؟
عقدان هما -في نظر الكثير- أعنف ما مر على منطقة الشرق الأوسط منذ قرن، على إثر ما يُسمى بالربيع العربي، وانفجار الأوضاع في دول مثل ليبيا وتونس والسودان وسوريا ولبنان، وحروب عدة متشابكة ما بين عصابات إرهابية وبين حكومات!
الإجابة يمكن أن تكون مقاربة أكثر منها إجابة قاطعة؛ فالسعوديون -بالعادة- واقعيون وعمليون، وإذا وجدوا أن هناك ضرورة للتغيير، فهذا يحدث، ولكن بشكل تدريجي، لا يمس القيم الأساسية (مثل العقيدة، السيادة، الاستقلال)، بل في أدوات التنفيذ، وأولويات التحالف، ونطاق الدور الإقليمي.
السعوديون لم يتخلوا عن جذور عقيدتهم السياسية التقليدية، النابعة من بداوتهم الأصيلة، وإسلامهم النقي، وعروبتهم الصافية، لكنهم أعادوا صياغتها بما يناسب دولة تسعى للريادة في عالم لا بقاء فيه إلا للأقوى اقتصاديًا وحضاريًا وتكنولوجيًا، ومنها جاءت «رؤية 2030» التي أطلقها ولي العهد السعودي الأمير محمد بن سلمان، لتشكّل مع العقيدة السياسية السعودية أداة تنفيذ متقدمة لها، وليكون التطوّر ليس على حساب الجوهر، بل في الوسائل، والأولويات، والخطاب، والنظرة للذات السعودية، والآخرين.
محمد الساعد
هل تغيّر السعوديون؟ هل تغيّرت سياساتهم؟
14 يوليو 2025 - 00:17
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آخر تحديث 14 يوليو 2025 - 00:17
تابع قناة عكاظ على الواتساب
With the rapid events in the region, especially in the past two decades, many are asking: Have the Saudis changed? Have they altered their priorities? In truth, the Saudis have not changed; rather, international policies have changed, powers have shifted, and threats have evolved. Because the Saudis are the children of the Arabian Peninsula and have lived throughout their history in its deserts, mountains, and plains, which have instilled in them a realistic approach to dealing with its dangers, difficulties, and surprises, they are the most realistic and adaptable in the region. They always stay one step ahead of dangers; otherwise, they would not have endured in such difficult geographical and climatic conditions.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has formed, over the past hundred years of its third statehood, a solid and steadfast "political doctrine," which has withstood many attempts to displace or change it, whether through conspiracy or even direct wars.
King Abdulaziz - may he rest in peace - laid a solid foundation for this political doctrine, one of its early principles being complete neutrality in the most significant conflict in human history - World War II. At the same time, he was the king who took it upon himself to restore the rule of his ancestors, practically aligning with an external alliance that rejected military dictatorship. Thus, King Abdulaziz was the first leader and chief to meet with the victors of the war – Roosevelt and Churchill – because the emerging kingdom's great king was able to establish a future role for his country in leading the world that continues to this day.
Let us summarize the main features of the political doctrine in its scientific definition, which is:
“A set of fundamental principles and orientations that guide the state's behavior in both internal and external affairs, forming the mental framework for decision-makers in interpreting threats, determining priorities, building alliances, and shaping long-term strategic policies.”
We can summarize here the most prominent features of the Saudi political doctrine that was built by the founder King Abdulaziz and has been continued by his royal successors to this day, emphasizing that each king managed his state according to the circumstances, but within the framework of the fixed Saudi political structure.
First: Full Sovereignty:
The Saudis have consistently emphasized the independence of the Saudi decision without submission to international axes or transnational organizations, regardless of the pressures or dangers. The Saudis have proven for a century that they are skilled in neutrality.
Second: Realistic Pragmatism:
Prioritizing national and economic interests over ideology or traditional alliances, regardless of populist or external pressures, or the drain exerted by powers within or outside the region. There are many experiences; the Saudis did not get swept away by revolutionary rhetoric, nor by leftist and socialist ideologies, nor by distorted liberalism.
Third: Developmental Transformation:
The foreign and domestic policies have always been directed to serve development, education, and the development of local communities as a comprehensive strategic goal, which has resulted in a modern, educated state that has been able to shorten time. Anyone who remembers the scholarship program established during King Abdulaziz’s reign must connect it to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' scholarship program.
Fourth: Diversifying International Partnerships:
Riyadh has worked to strengthen relations with existing or emerging major powers (the USA, the European Union, China, Russia, India, Brazil, South Africa) and not to be beholden to a single party.
Fifth: Establishing Arab and Islamic Leadership:
Since Saudi Arabia is the land of Arabism, where the Arabic language emerged, and it is the site of revelation, from which the ancestors of the Saudis, including the Companions and their successors, set forth, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its kings and institutions have dedicated all their resources to serve the Two Holy Mosques and prepare the sacred sites to receive hundreds of millions of pilgrims, Umrah performers, and visitors. All of this has made Saudi Arabia a leader of the moderate Islamic world, reinforcing Islam as a significant force in the world.
As for its Arab world, it has been the most keen on Arab security and preventing any interference in its affairs from regional or international powers, consistently raising a slogan that it has applied accurately: “Arab affairs for Arabs,” which is why many transnational projects aimed at dismantling the Arab space have failed at its walls.
Sixth: Combating Terrorism and Using Doctrines and Religions to Justify Violence:
The Saudis have been at the forefront of combating terrorism and rejecting religious organizations that use politics and religion to justify killing and violence. The Kingdom remains one of the most contributing countries in the fight against terrorism and in eliminating its sources.
Seventh: Affirming National Identity:
The Saudis have made clear efforts to focus entirely on the unifying Saudi identity, rather than any ethnic, regional, or ideological identity that divides rather than unites, elevating their Saudi identity to be an exclusive supreme reference.
Eighth: Building a Deterrent Regional Power:
Whenever Saudi armament is mentioned, one must recall the AWACS, the F15, the East Wind missiles, and the Patriot batteries that have arrived in Saudi Arabia over the years of solid military effort, culminating in the recent installation of the latest THAAD missile batteries in air defense systems. This was all aimed at building an extended military and technological system that imposes the Saudi deterrence equation in a region filled with failure and wars.
Ninth: Neutralizing Regional Powers Opposed to Saudi Arabia Without Direct Confrontation:
Saudi Arabia has not needed direct confrontation with anyone; political wisdom has always been its guiding principle in its relations with the region or beyond, using multiple tools (dialogue, alliances, economics, and finally indirect deterrence) to contain any threat.
Tenth: Priority of Internal Stability:
The Saudis recognized early on that development is the foundation of stability, and that monopolizing power, wealth, and knowledge is a corruption of the highest order. Therefore, they have worked hard to involve all their citizens through wealth distribution via funds, grants, and jobs, empowering the private sector, and widely spreading knowledge until illiteracy has been completely eradicated.
Since King Abdulaziz sent his son King Faisal to Moscow at the beginning of the Saudi era, and his son King Saud to America, along with other advisors to tour the capitals of the advanced world at that time in search of technology or projects that would develop humanity and the land and bring water, the Saudi state, represented by its kings, has understood that economic, educational, and social development at home is a top priority, rather than getting involved in external adventures, which have drained other countries that sought to spread their ideas or doctrines at the expense of their peoples.
Here arises an important question: Has the Saudi political doctrine changed over the last two decades?
Two decades that many consider the most violent period the Middle East has experienced in a century, following what is known as the Arab Spring, and the explosion of situations in countries like Libya, Tunisia, Sudan, Syria, and Lebanon, along with several intertwined wars between terrorist gangs and governments!
The answer can be more of an approximation than a definitive response; the Saudis are typically realistic and practical, and if they find that there is a need for change, it happens, but gradually, without touching the core values (such as doctrine, sovereignty, independence), but rather in the tools of implementation, the priorities of alliances, and the scope of the regional role.
The Saudis have not abandoned the roots of their traditional political doctrine, stemming from their authentic Bedouin heritage, their pure Islam, and their untainted Arabism, but they have redefined it to suit a state striving for leadership in a world where only the strongest survive economically, culturally, and technologically. This is where "Vision 2030," launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, emerged, forming an advanced implementation tool alongside the Saudi political doctrine, ensuring that development does not come at the expense of essence, but rather in means, priorities, discourse, and the perception of the Saudi self and others.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has formed, over the past hundred years of its third statehood, a solid and steadfast "political doctrine," which has withstood many attempts to displace or change it, whether through conspiracy or even direct wars.
King Abdulaziz - may he rest in peace - laid a solid foundation for this political doctrine, one of its early principles being complete neutrality in the most significant conflict in human history - World War II. At the same time, he was the king who took it upon himself to restore the rule of his ancestors, practically aligning with an external alliance that rejected military dictatorship. Thus, King Abdulaziz was the first leader and chief to meet with the victors of the war – Roosevelt and Churchill – because the emerging kingdom's great king was able to establish a future role for his country in leading the world that continues to this day.
Let us summarize the main features of the political doctrine in its scientific definition, which is:
“A set of fundamental principles and orientations that guide the state's behavior in both internal and external affairs, forming the mental framework for decision-makers in interpreting threats, determining priorities, building alliances, and shaping long-term strategic policies.”
We can summarize here the most prominent features of the Saudi political doctrine that was built by the founder King Abdulaziz and has been continued by his royal successors to this day, emphasizing that each king managed his state according to the circumstances, but within the framework of the fixed Saudi political structure.
First: Full Sovereignty:
The Saudis have consistently emphasized the independence of the Saudi decision without submission to international axes or transnational organizations, regardless of the pressures or dangers. The Saudis have proven for a century that they are skilled in neutrality.
Second: Realistic Pragmatism:
Prioritizing national and economic interests over ideology or traditional alliances, regardless of populist or external pressures, or the drain exerted by powers within or outside the region. There are many experiences; the Saudis did not get swept away by revolutionary rhetoric, nor by leftist and socialist ideologies, nor by distorted liberalism.
Third: Developmental Transformation:
The foreign and domestic policies have always been directed to serve development, education, and the development of local communities as a comprehensive strategic goal, which has resulted in a modern, educated state that has been able to shorten time. Anyone who remembers the scholarship program established during King Abdulaziz’s reign must connect it to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' scholarship program.
Fourth: Diversifying International Partnerships:
Riyadh has worked to strengthen relations with existing or emerging major powers (the USA, the European Union, China, Russia, India, Brazil, South Africa) and not to be beholden to a single party.
Fifth: Establishing Arab and Islamic Leadership:
Since Saudi Arabia is the land of Arabism, where the Arabic language emerged, and it is the site of revelation, from which the ancestors of the Saudis, including the Companions and their successors, set forth, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its kings and institutions have dedicated all their resources to serve the Two Holy Mosques and prepare the sacred sites to receive hundreds of millions of pilgrims, Umrah performers, and visitors. All of this has made Saudi Arabia a leader of the moderate Islamic world, reinforcing Islam as a significant force in the world.
As for its Arab world, it has been the most keen on Arab security and preventing any interference in its affairs from regional or international powers, consistently raising a slogan that it has applied accurately: “Arab affairs for Arabs,” which is why many transnational projects aimed at dismantling the Arab space have failed at its walls.
Sixth: Combating Terrorism and Using Doctrines and Religions to Justify Violence:
The Saudis have been at the forefront of combating terrorism and rejecting religious organizations that use politics and religion to justify killing and violence. The Kingdom remains one of the most contributing countries in the fight against terrorism and in eliminating its sources.
Seventh: Affirming National Identity:
The Saudis have made clear efforts to focus entirely on the unifying Saudi identity, rather than any ethnic, regional, or ideological identity that divides rather than unites, elevating their Saudi identity to be an exclusive supreme reference.
Eighth: Building a Deterrent Regional Power:
Whenever Saudi armament is mentioned, one must recall the AWACS, the F15, the East Wind missiles, and the Patriot batteries that have arrived in Saudi Arabia over the years of solid military effort, culminating in the recent installation of the latest THAAD missile batteries in air defense systems. This was all aimed at building an extended military and technological system that imposes the Saudi deterrence equation in a region filled with failure and wars.
Ninth: Neutralizing Regional Powers Opposed to Saudi Arabia Without Direct Confrontation:
Saudi Arabia has not needed direct confrontation with anyone; political wisdom has always been its guiding principle in its relations with the region or beyond, using multiple tools (dialogue, alliances, economics, and finally indirect deterrence) to contain any threat.
Tenth: Priority of Internal Stability:
The Saudis recognized early on that development is the foundation of stability, and that monopolizing power, wealth, and knowledge is a corruption of the highest order. Therefore, they have worked hard to involve all their citizens through wealth distribution via funds, grants, and jobs, empowering the private sector, and widely spreading knowledge until illiteracy has been completely eradicated.
Since King Abdulaziz sent his son King Faisal to Moscow at the beginning of the Saudi era, and his son King Saud to America, along with other advisors to tour the capitals of the advanced world at that time in search of technology or projects that would develop humanity and the land and bring water, the Saudi state, represented by its kings, has understood that economic, educational, and social development at home is a top priority, rather than getting involved in external adventures, which have drained other countries that sought to spread their ideas or doctrines at the expense of their peoples.
Here arises an important question: Has the Saudi political doctrine changed over the last two decades?
Two decades that many consider the most violent period the Middle East has experienced in a century, following what is known as the Arab Spring, and the explosion of situations in countries like Libya, Tunisia, Sudan, Syria, and Lebanon, along with several intertwined wars between terrorist gangs and governments!
The answer can be more of an approximation than a definitive response; the Saudis are typically realistic and practical, and if they find that there is a need for change, it happens, but gradually, without touching the core values (such as doctrine, sovereignty, independence), but rather in the tools of implementation, the priorities of alliances, and the scope of the regional role.
The Saudis have not abandoned the roots of their traditional political doctrine, stemming from their authentic Bedouin heritage, their pure Islam, and their untainted Arabism, but they have redefined it to suit a state striving for leadership in a world where only the strongest survive economically, culturally, and technologically. This is where "Vision 2030," launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, emerged, forming an advanced implementation tool alongside the Saudi political doctrine, ensuring that development does not come at the expense of essence, but rather in means, priorities, discourse, and the perception of the Saudi self and others.


