جماعات المصلحة في المملكة العربية السعودية

Abstract EN

The purpose of this study is to shed some light on interest groups in Saudi Arabia.

The paper describes the kinds of interest groups that exist, the functions that they perform, and the methods that they utilize to deliver and communi- cate their demands to decision makers.

The paper finds that there are two major kinds of interest groups in Saudi Arabia.

The first kind is formal interest groups, which are comprised of (i) private interest groups (such as business organizations) and (ii) institutional interest groups (such as bureaucratic and military organizations).

The second kind of interest group is less formal in nature.

Examples include those that are organized around the religious estab- lishment, tribal leaders, or different families.

The results of the paper show that interest groups use two methods to convey their demands to decision makers.

The first method is direct and formal contact with government.

The second method involves indirect contacts with decision makers.

The paper also dis- cusses the functions that are performed by interest groups ■