Economic Diversification And Institutional Adaptation In A Rent-Based Economy: The Case Of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This article analyzes the political-economic transformation of Saudi Arabia over the past decade, framing it as a unique case of authoritarian modernization, post-rentier economic reform, and global geostrategic adaptation. Based on an interdisciplinary approach integrating theories of the rentier state, institutional inertia, and visionary governance, the study traces the kingdom’s main vectors of change: economic diversification through Vision 2030, human capital development and social policy transformation, attempts toward ecological sustainability and climate adaptation, and a redefined foreign policy role in a multipolar global order. The article argues that Saudi Arabia is not merely an example of authoritarian resilience but an emerging model of statehood where legitimacy is grounded in performance, global positioning, and control over transnational flows. At the same time, the article underscores the internal constraints of this transformation, particularly institutional rigidity, social fragmentation, and the absence of political inclusion. This research contributes to ongoing debates on hybrid configurations of economic development, state power, and non-liberal forms of modernity.