The foreign policy of King Abdulaziz (1927-1953) : a study in the international relations of an emerging state

Abstract

King Abdulaziz stood out as a major figure in Saudi domestics and foreign policy. He laid the foundation for Saudi foreign policy and international relations. Available studies on King Abdulaziz's foreign policy either concentrated on earlier periods or dealt with part of his era. This study deals with the whole period of King Abdulaziz, approaches his foreign policy as a case study of a newly-emerging state and assesses the problems associated with this case. The study is organised as follows: chapter one discusses the rise of King Abdulaziz and the Saudi achievement of a sense of statehood. Chapter two explores the problems which confront newly-emerging states in the formulation and implementation of their foreign policy. Chapter three discusses the genesis of Saudi foreign policy structure. Chapter four focuses on Saudi Arabia's policy towards the affairs of the Arabian Peninsula. Chapter five examines the policy of King Abdulaziz towards the Arab World. Chapter six adresses the King's policy in the area of Islamic affairs. Chapter seven analyzes the King's relations with Britain after the Treaty of Jeddah of 1927. Chapter eight deals with Saudi policy towards the U. S. The study hopes to provide a better understanding of the process of Saudi foreign policy making under King Abdulaziz. A major finding of this study is throwing light on the problems experienced by Saudi Arabia as a newly-emerging state while making and implementing its foreign policy, particularly, in relation to a number of specific and general factors underlying the making and execution of this foreign policy. In this sense the study hopes to make a modest contribution to the available literature on King Abdulaziz's foreign policy