Associational Life under Authoritarianism: The Saudi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Elections

This article is concerned with the dynamics of internal leadership elections in one of Saudi Arabia’s oldest and most prominent network of professional syndicates, the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCIs). Exploring a hitherto under-researched phenomenon in Saudi associational life, it presents a first-hand account of the administration and conduct of CCI elections, revealing that, whilst formally competitive, in actual practice they fall short of some of the minimum standards of good practice in electoral matters. Key shortcomings thus identified include a lack of autonomy and impartiality in matters of electoral administration, the prevalence of regulations that insufficiently ensure the conduct of elections is fair and competitive, as well as the widespread use of illicit electioneering tactics to shape voter preferences and choice. The article concludes by asserting that — if the CCI experience is anything to go by — associational realities depress rather than advance prospects for democratizing associationalism in Saudi Arabia.