ABSTRACT
This chapter examines theories of military intervention in the Third World, or rather, theories associated with the prevention of military intervention as they apply to Saudi Arabia. It focuses on political, economic and organizational factors and their impact on military intervention and civil-military relations. A key civil-military crisis occurred in 1964 following a worsening of the struggle between Saud and Faisal. The literature of political violence has shown that economic decline may affect both military and civilian institutions and their members. The Gulf war revealed the vulnerability of the Saudi political and military institutions, as indicated in part by the public outcry at the disappointing performance of the armed forces. The Saudis have organized their military forces with a primary view to protecting their regime. As a bureaucratic entity, the Saudi military has a highly centralized command, which regulates and controls the movements of military personnel.
