Things Are Changing

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

That's the way it works in most countries. Saudi Arabia is different because institutional freedoms and political rights are dictated by the clergy and the crown. This is a positive step in an Islamist society, look at Iran. Clergy has a growing post-Islamist threat of various stripes, this is a large part of it.

My country is too young to be in that conversation, but far better than Saudi Arabia in every way.

Saudi Arabia is the same as Iran was - Iran fell apart after the Shah fell and it's only edged towards real democracy in the last decade, despite having a strong democratic tradition prior to the Shah's direct rule and a well educated populace.

You also have to ask why the Saudi Princes are doing this.

I see a couple of possible explanations:

A: Someone's Courtesan complained about rubbish collection in her ward.

B: They're trying to distract the US from what a terrible place it is by making token gestures towards reform.

At the other end of the scale you have Bahrain where the ruler is trying to move towards democracy and inclusion of women in the government but keeps running up against his ignorant male subjects who'd rather be ruled by Islamists.

[AE Bravo]

I got no love for the house of Saud, and while I think A is rubbish B is definitely possible. This is still a good thing.

As for Bahrain, I don't believe Islamists of both sects hold much power or are that popular for that matter. I spent two years there as a kid and went back a few years earlier, Islamist prudes are almost non-existent unlike Saudi Arabia. It's a free society with more progressives. In the end, it's a protectorate and you'd have to talk about Saudi interests when you talk about everything Bahrain.

[Fisherking]

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/...ution-teenager

[Greyblades]

Saudi arabia giving women those minor rights are like giving spare change to a hobo, it is a good thing but it's not going to do anything to offset any serious wrongs done by the giver.