FUTURE CHALLENGES OF THE SAUDI POLITICAL SYSTEM IN LIGHT OF REGIONAL CHANGES

Since the outbreak of the Arab Spring revolutions in 2011, the Arab region has witnessed many changes, which have brought with them clear challenges and threats to Arab national security in general, and to Gulf national security in particular. These changes and their resultant threats and challenges have forced the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to decide either to lean on itself or on the GCC countries Gulf Cooperation Council to keep the winds of change that have affected many Arab countries away from the borders of the Gulf Cooperation Council states. Thus, the Kingdom is witnessing a dangerous turning point in its internal and external policy resulting from regional crises that had repercussions and backslashes in the Saudi society.