Saudi Arabia's and the United States' strategic partnership in an era of turmoil: A study of Saudi-American political, economic, and military relationship, 1973-1983--dependence or interdependence?

The purpose of this study is to analyze both Saudi foreign policy and Saudi-American relations (1973-1983). As an approach to the study of Saudi foreign policy, we have developed a foreign policy framework called the new "major determinants of foreign policy" approach. In applying this approach to our subject, we have derived the following determinants for Saudi Arabia: They are dynastic interests (that is, preservation of the dynastic character of the state), military and strategic imperatives, religious legacy, ideological motives, and economic considerations. In addition to making us realize that both tangible and intangible factors shape foreign policy, the new "major determinants of foreign policy" approach also makes us realize that we can put Saudi Arabia's relations with the United States in a broader setting, and, as a result, determine whether this relationship conforms to the "Interdependence" model, the "Limited Interdependence" or "Dependence" model that we have devised. (However, because this study has focused on Saudi-American political, military, and economic relations, we have developed nine corresponding models). The constitutive elements of these models have been derived from the five determinants influencing Saudi foreign policy and from attendant factors. The study demonstrates that Saudi-American political, economic, and military relations fit the criteria of the "Limited Interdependence" model.