Saudi Arabia
Compared to previous years, Saudi Arabia possesses a higher level of assertiveness when it comes to its foreign policy. This is evident from the Saudi-led war in Yemen, which has led to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. It’s also evident from the changes in Saudi foreign policy that are being implemented by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
This assertiveness is rooted in several factors. First, Saudi Arabia has been frustrated by the lack of a clear direction in U.S. foreign policy since President Donald Trump took office. In addition, Saudi Arabia’s leadership is frustrated by the negative media coverage about its country. This is why Saudi Arabia has adopted a more active and sophisticated foreign policy. In particular, Saudi Arabia is trying to redirect the threat of Islamist extremism overseas and lessen its domestic threat. It’s also trying to re-establish its place in the regional order, which it felt was lost when it became a victim of the Soviet Union’s 1979 invasion of Afghanistan.
Second, Saudi Arabia’s new leadership is trying to move forward with an ambitious reshaping of the country. This includes an ambitious plan to privatize Saudi Aramco, a major oil company, and diversify its economy to lessen its reliance on oil. It also aims to create a non-hajj-based tourism industry. And finally, the country is attempting to regain its reputation as a leading Arab power in the Gulf region.
For years, Saudi Arabia has had an enmity towards Shi’a Muslim Iran. During the Soviet Union’s 1979 invasion of Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia supported the rebels. Similarly, Saudi Arabia has long believed that Iran is the most dangerous state in the Middle East. Saudi elites are eager to confront Iran now that Western countries have largely limited Tehran’s nuclear weapons program.
The Trump administration has yet to take the necessary steps to rein in Saudi’s aggressive foreign policy. The White House could condition its support on the Saudi government implementing priority programs. This might seem like an unpalatable approach, but it could be an effective way to recalibrate the U.S.-Saudi relationship. In fact, it could even legitimize Crown Prince Mohammed’s assertiveness.
The other major change in Saudi foreign policy is its reliance on the internet. The country has adopted the internet in a big way, and its use has opened the door to a broader range of creative expression and consumption. The internet is also opening up new opportunities for Saudi youth. Some Saudi youth have been vocally open to ties with Israel. This is part of a larger shift in Saudi attitudes towards the region and Western countries.
The United States has a major role to play in influencing Saudi’s foreign policy. Its top diplomats can help shape the Saudi kingdom’s approach to the region. However, the Trump administration has been reluctant to change U.S.-Saudi relations, and it has acquiesced to the Saudis’ adventurism.
Despite these limitations, there are a number of things the United States can do to encourage Saudi Arabia to be more assertive. For example, Saudi Arabia’s government has a duty to continue supporting the Yemeni forces that it has been supporting since the beginning of the conflict. It also has a duty to end indiscriminate targeting practices and to end the rift with Qatar. Finally, the United States should encourage Saudi Arabia to return to diplomacy.
Mexico
Traditionally characterized as a provincial nation, Mexico has undergone profound social and cultural transformations, influencing perceptions of masculinity. Today, a pluricultural national identity has emerged, giving new space to indigenous peoples. In the 1990s, Mexico faced major challenges to its national identity, including the Zapatista Army for National Liberation, which declared war on the government in 1994. However, the country’s national identity is still very much shaped by its relationship with the United States.
Traditionally, Mexicans have resented the U.S. influence in Mexico, particularly in the area of the economy. In the late twentieth century, Mexico experienced economic restructuring that was promoted by national and international interest groups. In addition to privatization, Mexico has also experienced deregulation and decentralization. This has been accompanied by a decline in the number of state-owned companies, from more than 1,000 in 1982 to less than 200 in 1998.
Despite the growing influence of the private sector, the public sector has retained some influence. For example, the National Council of Science and Technology (CNCSE) is the most important funding agency for social and physical sciences. It has a 1998 budget of $287 million and a program for financial incentives for productive academics. It allocated 25 percent of its budget to scientific research and 47 percent to individual postgraduate grants.
In the 1990s, Mexicans began to engage in social movements. They reacted to the police brutality and political violence by launching NGOs focusing on human rights. Some of these NGOs became very influential in the country.
Mexicans are also very friendly, and enjoy open displays of affection. For example, a Mexican may put an arm around the shoulder of a friend in a group, allowing the laughter to get very loud. Another way that Mexicans greet each other is to shake their hand. In this way, they are sending a message that they are friendly. It is also common for Mexicans to make a chopping motion with their forearm. They may also kiss the cheeks of a friend.
In addition to this, Mexicans are very concerned with social security. In order to protect their families, houses of wealthier Mexicans are walled and have barred windows on the front sides. In this way, they show that they are preserving the integrity of their family.
In Mexico, the political arena is dominated by men. A man is the most important authority in the home. In addition, women hold important responsibilities in the home. However, sexual education within the family is still taboo. In Mexico, infants are mostly cared for in the home. However, infants are sometimes cared for at private nurseries, from the age of three months.
The most important locus of support in Mexico is larger kin groups. These groups are used in finding work and establishing political connections. They are also used for evading red tape. Larger kin groups are often found in the poorer regions of the country, where they are primarily indigenous groups.
Mexicans also tend to treat strangers with suspicion. In this way, they cannot be grouped in different circles of intimacy. People of different socioeconomic status wait for a person with a higher status to establish the terms of an encounter.
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