countries are not thinking more deeply about what kind of political system they want to have longer-term.”
Echoing her sentiments about politics in the Gulf was another audience member who said he spoke from personal experience in the Middle East. He said there is currently a “mass exodus” of migrant workers out of Saudi Arabia. “They’ve kept it very quiet, but we’re talking tens of thousands of people being asked to leave [the country] so they can provide more employment for their [own] people….”
Ruebensaal acknowledged that a nation’s brand and its political system are interconnected, which can present challenges. But there’s always room for improvement. One way is through philanthropic efforts. “There’s a benefit to doing good,” he said. For example, “I think you can see what’s happening in Saudi Arabia right now” where progressives and conservatives are working out a balanced approach to women’s rights. There’s an “attempt to modernize the approach to women — and modernize society — so that the whole thing works.”
Article by Knowledge@Wharton
