Latest news with #BernardHaykel
Al Bawaba
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
AUB Holds Panel Discussion on the Reform of Governance in Saudi Arabia
The Good Governance and Citizenship Observatory (GGCO) at the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship at the American University of Beirut (AUB) hosted a panel discussion titled 'Hawkama and Vision 2030: The Reform of Governance in Saudi Arabia.' The event featured Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University Bernard Haykel, a leading expert on the Gulf and Middle East. The conversation explored how institutional reform and regulatory change are advancing transparency, accountability, and sustainable development as part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's broader transformation panel drew a distinguished audience, including Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Waleed Al-Bukhari; Spanish Ambassador to Lebanon Jesús Santos Aguado; Mexican Ambassador to Lebanon Francisco Romero Bock; Dr. Fadi Makki, Lebanon's minister of state for administrative reform; and former ministers. Also in attendance were Dr. Fadlo Khuri, AUB president; Dr. Zaher Dawy, AUB provost; as well as university deans, senior administrators, and faculty of the Asfari Institute Lina Abou-Habib opened the event by welcoming the attendees and highlighting the significance and timeliness of the discussion, describing it as 'within the mandate of the institute, to discuss prospects, trends, and emerging initiatives that influence governance structures in the Arab region, particularly at this incredibly important moment of transition and instability.'Dr. Simon Kachar, GGCO founding and current director, and lecturer in political science at AUB, followed with opening remarks that placed the discussion in a broader regional and institutional context. 'In an era marked by rapid transformations and evolving global dynamics, understanding the nuances of governance reform becomes paramount,' he said. 'Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 represents an ambitious and far-reaching blueprint for economic diversification and social change, and at its very core lies the fundamental pillar of governance.'Kachar noted that the GGCO was established to foster critical thinking, encourage informed dialogue, and advance knowledge on good governance and active citizenship within Arab contexts. 'We believe that genuine progress and sustainable development are linked to transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance structures,' he emphasized that the panel provided an opportunity to examine how Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is being translated into practice and how governance reforms are reshaping institutions. 'Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a forward-looking nation, globally integrated and domestically resilient,' he Fadlo Khuri, AUB president, then delivered his welcoming remarks, highlighting the panel's regional and global relevance. 'Questions like how Vision 2030 is shaping Saudi Arabia in the region are extremely germane to what's happening in Lebanon and the entire region,' he said. He added that understanding what is happening in Saudi Arabia is essential—not only for neighboring countries, but for the international community as a whole. 'Saudi Arabia is a global concern,' he went on to commend the event's keynote guest, Professor Haykel, for his academic depth and candid insight. 'I feel fortunate that today at AUB, we have arguably the most insightful expert—and also one of the most honest experts in the region. Not just academically qualified, but more than happy to share careful observations from a place of objectivity and great knowledge,' Khuri panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Tania Haddad, associate professor of public administration and nonprofit management at AUB and member of the GGCO Steering Committee. She opened by framing the scope of the conversation: 'Over the past decade, the kingdom has undertaken one of the most ambitious state-led transformation agendas in the region. Anchored in Vision 2030, these reforms span economic diversification, bureaucratic modernization, social liberalization, and institutional restructuring. This panel aims to critically examine the governance dimensions of these reforms, including their origins, mechanisms, and implications.'Haddad then introduced Professor Haykel as a prominent scholar of the Arabian Peninsula, whose work focuses on the politics, economics, and history of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Yemen, and 'has critically engaged with questions of state reform, institutional change, and governance in the kingdom.'The discussion unfolded as a moderated, in-depth exchange, structured around four key themes central to understanding Saudi Arabia's governance reform trajectory. It began by examining the driving forces behind the reform agenda. Haykel traced the impetus to a growing realization among Saudi leadership—and increasingly, among the public—that the previous system of governance had become unsustainable.'The driver for reform in Saudi Arabia is a sense that exists among the leadership—but I think it's also prevalent in society—that the country, as it was functioning before the accession of King Salman in 2015… was unsustainable, and that the country needed to dramatically change,' Haykel said. He added that 'what's particularly distinctive about the kingdom, and you don't find it in other countries of the GCC, is the brutal honesty with which the leadership in the kingdom talked about this need.'The conversation then explored how reforms have reshaped the relationship between the state and its citizens, particularly through the strategic deployment of nationalism, identity, and new narratives of civic responsibility. It also addressed the institutionalization of accountability, transparency, and citizen participation, and concluded with a reflection on the broader regional implications of the Saudi reform experience. The event concluded with a question-and-answer session that invited reflections on the sustainability, implementation, and broader impact of the reforms.
Asharq Al-Awsat
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Bernard Haykel to Asharq Al-Awsat: Trump's Visit Reflects Saudi Arabia's Significant Global Role
Dr. Bernard Haykel, professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University, said US President Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday is very important and that it sends messages not just to the international community, but inside the US itself. The messages indicate that Saudi Arabia is the most important country for American interests, not just in the Middle East, but the entire world, Haykel told Asharq Al-Awsat in an interview. Haykel added that Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has dedicated his life in service of his country and has set national interests above all else. Haykel expects Trump's visit to Riyadh to yield several bilateral agreements. The deals may cover vital sectors such as AI, the development of a peaceful nuclear program and facilitating arms deals. He ruled out, however, reaching any agreement that would pave the way for the normalization of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Such an agreement must be tied with a clear pledge from Israel to establish an independent sovereign Palestinian state. 'Excellent' relations Trump's visit is expected to be a success on several levels, notably on the level of bilateral ties or files related the war on Ukraine, Haykel went on to say. Relations between Riyadh and Washington are 'excellent', as they have been during the final two year's of former President Joe Biden's term in office, despite the difference in policies, he noted. Trump's return to the White House has restored momentum in the bilateral relations, while Saudi Arabia recognizes the differences between the former and current administration, he continued. The Kingdom has managed to build solid relations with both the Republican and Democratic parties based on its firm policy that is founded on consolidating regional security and stability, explained Haykel. This policy intersects with American interests in several files, most notably achieving regional peace and over Iran's nuclear program. Trump and Biden both oppose Iran developing nuclear weapons, Haykel said. Saudi Arabia's global standing By choosing Saudi Arabia again as the destination of his first foreign visit, Trump is clearly saying that the Kingdom is the United States' most important partner, not just in the Middle East, but the world, Haykel added. The Kingdom's role in complex international files, such as the Russian-Ukrainian war, consolidated its standing as an influential global player, he remarked. He warned, however, that the visit is not without its risks. He explained that Trump still faces severe internal opposition, and his rivals will use the visit to target Saudi Arabia in the media. Circumstances, though, have changed since his first term in office. The media attacks will not be as intense as the first time he visited the Kingdom given its balanced foreign policy and strong ties with the Republican and Democratic parties, predicted Haykel. On this note, he hailed Crown Prince Mohammed's ability to forge strong ties with world leaders. He has dedicated his life to serving the Kingdom and so, he realizes the importance of establishing strong ties with various world leaders. The Crown Prince places Saudi interests above all else as demonstrated by his decision to open a new chapter in relations with Iran, for example, Haykel said. No normalization During Trump's visit, Riyadh and Washington will likely negotiate a number of strategic agreements that cover security cooperation, a peaceful nuclear program, exchange of goods, AI and facilitating US arms sales to the Kingdom. Some of these agreements were tied to Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel, said Haykel, but such a deal is unlikely to happen without the latter making real concessions to the Palestinians, starting with accepting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. It is obvious that Saudi Arabia will not go ahead with the normalization, he stressed. Strategic agreements will be separated from the normalization efforts.
