Saudi Arabia's Cultural Investments Spark Human Rights Scrutiny
Saudi Arabia, under its Vision 2030, is heavily investing in culture, tourism, and entertainment. This strategy aims to diversify its economy, boost its international image, and enhance national prestige. However, these investments have sparked criticism and scrutiny of the kingdom's human rights record.
Saudi Arabia's cultural investments span various sectors. It has poured funds into events and institutions, aiming to create regional cultural hotspots. This includes the hosting of the Riyadh Comedy Festival, which attracted international comedians. However, the event did not effectively promote the kingdom's image, instead reigniting criticisms of reputation laundering.
The kingdom's investment in the gaming industry, such as its proposed buyout of Electronic Arts (EA), is driven by financial motives and personal interests of key officials. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is reportedly a gaming enthusiast, influencing these investments. Yet, these cultural events and investments also serve domestic purposes. They aim to shape Saudi citizens' desires and offset the Saudi monarchy's declining generosity.
Despite attempts to insulate domestic events from international scrutiny, they often expose Saudi Arabia's human rights record to greater criticism. Even events driven by domestic factors can draw attention to the kingdom's rights record, as seen in the aftermath of the Riyadh Comedy Festival.
Saudi Arabia's cultural investments, while aiming to diversify its economy and enhance its international image, have also drawn increased scrutiny of its human rights record. These investments, driven by financial motives and personal interests, serve both domestic and international purposes. However, they have not always achieved their intended outcomes, such as promoting the kingdom's image or offsetting criticisms.
