The strengthening of authoritarianism in Saudi Arabia: the logic of two-level games under the de facto neo-patrimonial government of Muhammad bin Salman

Abstract

The purpose of this text is to analyze the strengthening of authoritarianism and militarism in Saudi Arabia after the appointment of Mohammed Bin Salman as minister of Defence (2015), examining the policy that has been promoted under the logic of what is known as two-level games. It starts from two axes: an economic diversification project along with a modernization based on technological progress, in which its participation in the war in Yemen has played an important role; on the other hand, at a regional and global level with the promotion of a public diplomacy that has tried to disseminate an image of Saudi Arabia as a modern country and in favor of human rights, despite the constant repression and violation of such rights. Prince Bin Salman's policy has been based on the development of a neo-patrimonialism instrumentalized in the preparation of a favorable internal and external context for his future rise as king. To achieve the proposed objective, the article is structured into three sections: the first explains the conceptual framework that will be useful to examine Mūḥammad Bin Salman's policies, such as authoritarianism, militarism, neo-patrimonialism and the logic of two level games. ; The second section briefly reviews the context of Saudi Arabia from 2005, with the rise of Abdala Bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, which will serve as an antecedent of the changes and continuities of the reign of the current king, Salman Bin Abdulaziz and with it, the participation of Mohammed Bin Salman.