The Foreign Service Journal, May 2018

40 MAY 2018 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL The plan for sweeping changes to meet economic and demographic challenges does not appear to include an opening-up of the political system. BY J ERRY F E I ERSTE I N S audi Arabia’s leadership is coming under growing pressure to address significant economic and demographic challenges so it can remain a stable, prosperous country. These include: • Nearly 45 percent of the population (currently about 26 million) is under the age of 25. • Although the official unemployment Jerry Feierstein retired in May 2016 with the rank of Career Minister, following a 41-year Foreign Service career. In addition to service as ambassador to Yemen from 2010 to 2013, his nine overseas postings included Pakistan (three tours), Saudi Arabia, Oman, Lebanon, Israel and Tunisia. From 2013 until his retirement, Ambassador Feier- stein was principal deputy assistant secretary of State for Near Eastern affairs; earlier in his career, as deputy coordinator of the State Depart- ment’s Counterterrorism Bureau, he led the development of initiatives to build regional networks to confront extremist groups, block terrorist financing and promote counterterrorismmessaging. Amb. Feierstein joined the Middle East Institute in October 2016 as a senior fellow and is the director of its new Center for Gulf Affairs. A Saudi Arabian woman in full niqab. WIKIMEDIACOMMONS/CCBY2.0/THX_9151bs Saudi Arabia LIBERALIZATION, NOT DEMOCRATIZATION ON DEMOCRACY FOCUS