Saudi Arabia's "Permeable" Internet ICT (Information and Communications Technology) - Examination of Chinese "Closed" Internet Restrictions Compared to U.S. "Open" Web, Saudi Diversification

This late 2018 report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. Due to countless political, economic, and social interactions between China and the United States since China's opening to the West in 1971, their economies have been inextricably linked. However, recent fundamental disagreements over governance of the internet have led to a contentious relationship. Both China and the United States have political and economic interests in "winning" the internet governance debate. Today, due to the political, social, and economic dynamics inherent in authoritarian countries across the globe, more of these governments may accept and use the China internet model, thereby forcing the United States and other Western countries to acknowledge the legitimacy of a censored and filtered internet. This thesis seeks to answer a central question: Why does the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have a "permeable" internet? The answer to this question may inform the strategies of Western nations attempting to counterbalance the Chinese "closed" internet model through the U.S. "open" internet model.

This compilation includes a reproduction of the 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

I. Introduction * A. Major Research Question * B. Significance of the Research Question * C. Literature Review * D. Potential Explanations and Hypotheses * E. Research Design * F. Thesis Overview * II. U.S. and Chinese Internet Models * A. Net Neutrality * B. Internet Sovereignty * C. Foundation of the Internet * D. U.S. Model of the Internet * E. Chinese Model of the Internet * F. Conclusion * III. Saudi Arabia's Internet Model * A. Saudi Arabia's Basic Law of Governance * B. Coup-Proofing * C. The Rentier State * D. Context — Saudi Arabia's Economic History * E. Conclusion * IV. Saudi Diversification and Development * A. Diversification of the Economy Away from the Oil Sector * B. Development of Human Capital * C. Where Did the Saudi Internet Begin? * D. Conclusion * V. Thesis Conclusion * A. The U.S. "Open" Internet Model * B. The Chinese "Closed" Internet Model * C. The Saudi Arabian "Permeable" Internet Model * D. Why Does Saudi Arabia Have a Permeable Internet? * E. Future Research Opportunities * F. Conclusion

Saudi Arabia's quest to promote economic growth and maintain social stability is on the continuum between two distinct internet model options—the U.S. "open" internet model or the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.) "closed" internet model. The U.S. model demonstrates sustained economic growth with an unfiltered or "open" flow of information to the population. The U.S. model introduces vast amounts of information that may lead to social instability. The second model, the P.R.C. model, demonstrates sustained economic growth without a chaotic flow of information due to its filtered internet. China's model limits disruptions from vast information flows, thereby lessening the chances of social instability. The U.S. and Chinese internet models are extremes on the internet freedom continuum yet both are able to produce economic growth. Authoritarian countries, such as Saudi Arabia, may find aspects of each internet model attractive. The Saudi government may have difficulties deciding which internet model to choose from because of personal or political interests. The United States creates a counter-narrative against the P.R.C. model of the internet to dissuade countries, such as Saudi Arabia, from migrating toward a "closed" internet structure. Two key factors may reaffirm benefits and pitfalls of both internet models: STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) expertise organic to the Saudi population and Saudis' reliance on the international economic markets associated with oil exportation.