From order taker to policy maker: The expanding role of planning in the socioeconomic development of Saudi Arabia from 1932 to present

Economic growth in the developing nations has been a topic of major international concern, especially since the middle of this century. The international community as well as scholarly researchers has dedicated increasing amounts of time, energy and resources to determining how best to accelerate the growth rates of developing countries to bring their states' standards of living closer to the level of industrialized nations. These planning activities have stretched the limits of models for achieving these lofty goals, resulting in revision, rethinking, and evolution of planning techniques and strategies. Of significant import is the increased prominence of planning in shaping governmental policy decisions. Using a case-study approach, this research examines the relationship between the expansion of the role of planning, increased latitude on the part of planners to set goals, objectives, and socio-political policies and agendas to improve the quality of life in modern Saudi Arabia. The dissertation demonstrates that the policy-making frame work established throw the Five Year Development Planning process, in conjunction with certain factors unique to Saudi Arabia at the time, combined with the development of the petroleum resources of the Kingdom, resulted in significant increases in its gross domestic product. The research findings are generalized, contrasting contributing and confounding conditions in other nations that might benefit from this revision of the more traditional role of planning as a tool for implementation. Implications for future theoretical and practical research are examined.