Dissertation_Dr Faisal Almubarak

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the urgent need to shift gears to uplift the states' sagging reputation and appeal. For the
United States, Faisal's reform was timely as well as necessary to stave off the widespread
revolutionary tides in the cold war era. To the U.S. economy in particular, and the West in
general, a traditional monarchy, yet politically stable system seemed safer than a secularist
and progressive system whose future was uncertain. According to Lenczowski, in the
"pragmatic" sphere, Faisal scored an impressive success in the implementation of the
program. With unusual speed, he restored the financial system, paid-off all debts,
stabilized the currency and balanced the budget More important to this study, he
earmarked special funds for national development. "Development itself began emerging
from the stage of planning into the stage of execution." 35
The development program accompanied the inauguration of numerous construction
projects and substantial improvements in the infrastructure which were deemed necessary
for future development. Foreign firms flocked to the country to execute the ambitious
road-building, new airports and upgrading and expansion of telephone networks.
Complex engineering projects were handled by foreign contractors who brought with them
herds of laborers and professionals to build modern utilities in the rapidly growing towns
and cities. Faisal also opened the door for Saudi employment in the government sector.
By 1966, private business boomed under the prevailing, encouraging governmentsponsored
modernization.
However, the implementation of the ten-point reform bill fell short of what was
promised. The first point which pertained to the endorsement of a constitution defining the
mechanisms to regulate the national decision-making process guaranteeing more input on
the population's part was not fulfilled. Such a failure coincides with Huntington's
projection which states "the modernizing reforms of the monarch require the absence of
elections, parliament and political parties." 36
B. Institution Building and Consolidation
Since the establishment of modern Saudi Arabia, the disintegration of certain modes
of socioeconomic organization and the appearance of modern forms have proceeded in
tandem. For example, the detribalization of the Saudi population has coincided with a
massive and continuous movement of people from the desert and rural areas to urban and
rural centers. Change has also been taking place in the form of abandoning traditional