WE are moving in the right direction and to be more precise this is, in my humble estimation, a discernible move in the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which was founded in 1932. This was my response to a good friend of mine who asked me about my insights pertaining to the recent establishment of the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue. Yes, this is indeed true. We seem to be taking the first steps in a mammoth and hazardous journey. I am describing it as such because of two signs that characterize our way of thinking in Saudi Arabia or at least that of a large number in our society. Many Saudi citizens (authorities as well as average citizens) tend to use the phrase “We are the best” or “ We have the best of this or that” whenever asked to comment on various aspects of the Kingdom. Yes, you may argue that exploiting our oil revenue has resulted in our having good infrastructure, good universities, hospitals, airports, and the list goes on. Yet, the fact is that they are not the best and we still have a long way to go before they are. My aim in bringing this issue up for discussion is not to refute such a way of thinking, but rather to welcome and applaud the measures that we are currently taking, which will eventually help us, hopefully, to stay away from making or believing in such a claim. There are a number of issues that we need to take into account before we can claim to be the best. We need to consider employing the Human Development Index (HDI) which examines our health achievements and the education and wealth of each citizen by measuring the following: life expectancy, educational achievement (adult literacy plus combined primary, secondary and tertiary enrollment) and standard of living (real GDP per capita based on PPP exchange rates). Other features that we need to check when making such claims include personal safety, security, internal stability, street crime and the burglary rate. Additionally, law enforcement, censorship, and limitations on personal freedom, good international relations and sustainable economic growth should also be taken into account. These criteria are critical to overall quality of life standards in countries around the world. It is therefore imperative that they form the basis for any attempt to claim that we are the best, and we must use figures based on the foregoing criteria to show that we are indeed the best, or among the best, in the world. I am optimistic that the discussions of the national dialogue forums and meetings sponsored by the center will in one way or another raise our awareness of the possible danger in maintaining such an attitude. I am hoping further that it will make us recalculate our stand and help us acknowledge our shortcomings and drive us to strive to learn from others and benefit from knowledge and experience beyond our own. In the near past, a second sign appeared that characterizes a large number of Saudis, which is that many citizens argue against showing much concern about what others may think of us. Their simple argument is that others should be left to draw whatever conclusions they want about us. It is, in the end, their problem, not ours. This, by any yardstick, should not be our way of dealing with others. We should, instead, reach out to them so that we can present the true image of ourselves – our values and culture – and at the same time hear what they think of us. Opening up and listening to the world puts us in the position of being able to prevent a negative image about the Kingdom dwelling in the world's mind. Let us all go forth and celebrate the coming national dialogue forums and support them in any way we can, simply because they will put us on the right track.
– The writer is a Saudi academic who can be reached at [email protected]
