Saudi Arabia, France share common vision (Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi, Al Arabiya)

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/07/01/Saudi-Arabia-France-share-common-vision.html

Is Saudi Vision 2030 realistic? (Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi, Al Arabiya)

Big and broad visions produce drastic change. Global experiences show us that large and complex success stories began with such visions. The experience of Singapore, for example, began with the vision of its leader who transformed a small island into a highly successful economy as well as a global commercial center.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/05/05/Is-Saudi-Vision-2030-realistic-.html

The New Saudi Arabia (Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, Arab News)

Saudi Arabia is on a new trajectory of growth. The new vision outlines the future of the country. This week, the Kingdom revealed its post-oil plans and introduced a clear road map for its future. That road map prepares for change in a new Saudi Arabia in line with modern times. It has the potential for not only economic achievements but also political, social and military ones.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/916051

Saudi Arabia’s future (Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, Arab News)

It was an exceptional day for Saudi Arabia yesterday. The Royal Court was packed with Saudi and foreign journalists and writers. Their eyes were fixated on the declaration of the Saudi Vision 2030 — a new road map that charts a new future for Saudi Arabia.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/915611

Letter from a Saudi citizen to Obama (Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, Arab News)

Mr. Obama, welcome to Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia that you have visited more than any other American president. I must say, Saudis are proud of their historic relations with the United States. The Kingdom has always valued principled alliances. Our 80-year-old ties have been the cornerstone of the region’s stability for decades.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/913126

King Salman Bridge new symbol of Arab unity (Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, Arab News)

The announcement that a bridge will be built between Saudi Arabia and Egypt named after Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman is not only a powerful indicator of the growing ties between the two nations but certainly also a symbol of a new road being forged to achieve much-needed Arab unity.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/907796

King Salman’s strategic Cairo visit (Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, Arab News)

There is intense focus on the upcoming visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to Egypt. Described by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry as historic, it will certainly disappoint many who have been betting on a rift between the two nations.

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Riyadh conference and the turning point (Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, Arab News)

Major events spark controversy and speculation even before they happen. The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition is a most important project that gained considerable attention and raised many questions.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/902896

Riyadh and Paris — ideal relationship (Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, Arab News)

Saudi-French relations could easily rank as one of the most solid in the world, with an increasingly aligned view on tackling political and security issues, which have been buttressed recently by high-level meetings between leaders of the two countries in Paris and Riyadh.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/889056

Standing by Lebanon and feeling bitter (Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi, Al Arabiya)

Saudis have a trait which is an old and inherited Arab one of not pointing out the support they give to others lest it looks like bragging. Unfortunately, the political realities of international relations have caused this to change. Thus, Saudi Arabia was forced to disclose the amount of aid to Iraq during the war in Kuwait. The numbers led to shocked amazement in Baghdad even more than in Riyadh.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/02/26/Standing-by-Lebanon-and-feeling-bitter.html

The UAE’s Ministry of Happiness (Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi, Al Arabiya)

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, surprised the World Government Summit held in Dubai this week when he announced major structural changes in the government. One of the most noteworthy was the creation of a Ministry of Happiness.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/02/11/The-UAE-s-Ministry-of-Happiness.html

Social change in the face of terrorism (Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, Arab News)

Terrorism is an international issue which demands our careful attention. It has steadily shown how degraded and violent it can be. The attack on a mosque in Al-Ahsa a few days ago is an illustration of extreme terrorist ideology, of which anybody can be a victim. Terrorism cannot be justified by any religion and the mosque attack shows that some of those who claim to be Muslim are false and deceitful.
This evil is spreading its venom to its surroundings, regardless of religion or nationality. The sign of this is the targeting of places of worship which should be safe sanctuaries. There has been a great deal of talk about fighting terrorism both militarily and intellectually. On the one hand, Saudi security forces have prevented attacks by arresting members of terrorist cells that were planning deadly operations. On the other, there has also been a welcome intellectual effort to counter extremist ideology on many different levels.
Scholars and intellectuals work to expose the dangers of terrorism and its ideological errors. Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh has denounced the savage act in Al-Ahsa, describing it as “shameful” and “an act of corruption on earth.” He added that such crimes aim to spread division and dissension in the nation by instilling fear in the hearts of Muslims.
Many scholars and other devout Muslims believe that only misled people and non-believers would carry out such bloody terrorist acts. The question, however, still remains: How can a man willingly blow himself up and kill others at the same time? What kind of brainwashing could lead anyone, young or old, to such depravity? If we are to blame depressing economic conditions, then history is full of those who suffered similar conditions without resorting to such acts. Thus, we need a psychological analysis of terrorism. How can anyone kill his own mother or relative and yet claim that they are fighting in the name of God? While security officials and intellectuals continue the struggle, there is a social aspect that has not been fully recognized.
Social change has existed in all societies throughout history and has had varying results which differ according to the community and time.
The change often generates new values, social structures and relationships. The present openness, due to globalization, the communication revolution as well as travel and study abroad, imposes variables formed in the internal structure of society. Sometimes upheavals occur due to the speed of change. Amid rapid change, the weakest links are those living on the sidelines of the change or those who are victims of the change itself. They are the most malleable, the most vulnerable.
Therefore, they resort to any means in an attempt to regain their lost balance. If anyone offers them anything, they confuse it with a perceived betrayal, mixing religious passion and superficial ideology and a general discontent with society.
While changes might have occurred randomly in earlier societies, social change nowadays is governed by will and vision. Leaving the helm of social change to chance is in itself a risk because the effects are likely to spin out of control. Change is, of course, inevitable; often we do not sense it as it occurs, but an accumulation of events and deeds makes the result clear and obvious later. The process of social change is continuous in communities, described by the author Joseph Davis as the shift in social organization, both in its structure and its relationships or functions.
Our societies have witnessed rapid changes but we may have not paid enough attention to the sociological aspects of social change in its different forms. Social theories say that change does not necessarily mean progress and development; change is not in and of itself synonymous with progress and development.
There is an important responsibility in the process or rather, the leadership, of social change. Change must occur in harmony with a political decision and a vision. Perhaps it will require decisions that lead the change and even impose it at certain times. This makes the change a deliberate process instead of one happening by chance.
Combatting terrorism is a major project on many levels, including security as well as intellectual and social efforts. Perceiving social change as an element on a measurable threat of terrorism is important enough that we need to study its aspects and implications. Great societies, we have seen, take the initiative toward beneficial change and so they consequently lead.

Why Tunisia’s Moncef Marzouki is being unfair (Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi, Al Arabiya)

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/01/28/Why-Tunisia-s-Moncef-Marzouki-is-being-unfair-.html

Saudi Arabia: Securing interests, not making enemies (Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi, Al Arabiya)

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/01/21/Saudi-Arabia-Securing-interests-not-making-enemies.html

Arabs and Iran — the last chance (Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi, Al Arabiya)

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/01/14/Arabs-and-Iran-the-last-chance.html

New Saudi policy – benefits and pragmatism (Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi, Al Arabiya)

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2015/12/03/New-Saudi-policy-benefits-and-pragmatism.html

(Istituto fondamentale - Global) Is a Western-Iranian alliance really the solution? (Mohammed Fahad al-Harthi, Al Arabiya)

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2015/07/17/Is-a-West-Iran-alliance-the-solution-.html