This paper analyzes the
political system of Saudi Arabia from the perspectives of the state system and the government system.
From the former, with the development of the oil industry and the nationalization of the oil fields and the land in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom has entered the capitalist stage; internal principal contradiction is the contradiction between the masses of the lower strata and the bourgeoisie represented by the royal family in or out of office. However, the bourgeoisified royal family is characteristic of feudalism. From the latter, none of the monarchs since the second monarch of the kingdom can arrogate all powers to himself. In fact, the Council of Notables, the Council of Ministers, ulama, and the subsequent Consultative Council have restrained them. So the government system is not autocratic monarchy or absolute monarchy. Besides, the royal family of Saudi Arabia maintains the integration of religion and
politics, i.e. the monarch holds
political power and the religious power at the same time. However, the monarch is not clergy. So it's improper to regard the monarchy of Saudi Arabia as "Islamic monarchy" either. To sum up, the political system of Saudi Arabia may be defined as quasi-capitalist limited monarchy with the combination of religion and politics.