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In an era defined by relentless global upheavals, from pandemics and economic shocks to geopolitical tensions and climate catastrophes, the fabric of human welfare is fraying at an alarming rate. The world scarcely recovers from one crisis before another descends, upending lives and economies with ruthless efficiency.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the Western hemisphere, where nations long accustomed to unparalleled prosperity now grapple with a stark erosion of their social compacts. These disruptions have not only diminished living standards but also ignited political wildfires, fueling the ascent of far-right ideologies and deepening societal fissures, particularly through resentment toward immigrants, who, ironically, have long bolstered these same economies.

The successive global crises have profoundly impacted living standards and welfare, particularly in the West, leading to the rise of the far right and resentment toward immigrants. This backlash threatens the very social cohesion that underpins stable societies, turning neighbors into adversaries and eroding the bonds of mutual trust.

However, the tremors of these crises reverberate far beyond the West, striking with even greater ferocity in the Middle East and other developing regions. Here, where the poor and working classes form the backbone of the population, the absence of robust safety nets can spell catastrophe. Social protection programs emerge as indispensable lifelines in this landscape — vital instruments for shielding the vulnerable, fostering equity and preserving communal harmony.

By delivering cash transfers, in-kind aid and access to essentials like healthcare and education, these initiatives mitigate inequality, empower marginalized groups and curb the twin specters of poverty and crime. They are not mere handouts but strategic investments in human capital, ensuring that societies remain resilient amid adversity.

A poignant illustration of this global malaise appeared last month in The Washington Post, where columnist Ishaan Tharoor dissected the unraveling of Europe’s welfare edifice in an article titled, “The decline of the welfare state has boosted the rise of the far right.” Tharoor argued that austerity-driven slashes to social spending have sown seeds of discontent, ripening the ground for populist extremists.

Echoing this, UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights Olivier De Schutter has decried these policies as societal poison, warning that they exacerbate anti-immigrant fervor, fracture communities and dismantle the threads of solidarity. De Schutter advocates for a bold expansion of social protections not as charity, but as a cornerstone for rebuilding confidence and fortitude in divided nations.

Successive global crises have profoundly impacted living standards and welfare, particularly in the West. 

Dr. Turki Faisal Al-Rasheed

Complicating this narrative are stark ironies, such as European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde’s recent alerts on decelerating growth and the specter of a Donald Trump-led resurgence in the US, which might siphon funds toward militarism at the expense of civilian welfare. These warnings underscore a deeper malaise: the West’s own playbook of fiscal restraint is boomeranging, hollowing out the systems that once defined its moral and economic superiority.

At the heart of this turmoil lies a legacy of rapacious Western policies that have cast the rest of the world as mere pawns in a grand game of dominance. For decades, the US and its allies, backed by multinational behemoths and vested-interest institutions, have orchestrated global architectures like the veto-wielding UN Security Council to enforce their hegemony. This has been buttressed by unchecked capitalist predation, which has ravaged resources, ignited conflicts and perpetuated instability across continents. Colonial echoes persist in mechanisms such as Israeli settlements, engineered to safeguard Washington’s footholds in the Middle East.

Consider France, a paragon of this duplicity. Lacking indigenous gold mines, it nonetheless hoards the world’s fourth-largest reserve — 2,436 tonnes — eclipsing the paltry stockpiles of the nations it once exploited. Mali, for instance, extracts 50 tonnes yearly from 860 mines yet clings to negligible holdings, its wealth siphoned northward. As French discourse brands African migrants “thieves,” the true plunderers stand exposed in history’s mirror. Let’s cut to the core: Today, these predatory mechanisms are turning against Western populations themselves — rising costs, declining living standards and the accumulation of wealth in the hands of a small elite.

The backlash is visceral and widespread. In the US, Germany, the UK and France, citizens confront skyrocketing expenses for housing, energy and groceries, even as central banks wage futile battles against inflation. Purchasing power evaporates, leaving families to ration basics while a gilded few amass fortunes untouched by the storm. Psychological tolls mount waves of anxiety, depression and despair fueled by job insecurity, wage stagnation and the gnawing dread of tomorrow. These strains corrode the pillars of Western societies: overburdened healthcare queues, crumbling public education and fraying mental health services. What was once a beacon of stability now teeters, its foundations cracked by the very policies that enriched elites at the expense of the many.

If the West, with its vast resources and institutional legacies, staggers under this weight, the Arab world confronts an existential imperative. Our region, battered by overlapping crises, from oil volatility to regional conflicts and the lingering scars of the pandemic, demands an urgent fortification of social protections.

International assessments, including those from the World Bank and Arab League, paint a sobering picture: many Arab nations’ programs falter in coverage, funding and agility, leaving swaths of the population exposed to shocks. Reforms are overdue, expanding nets to encompass informal workers, migrants and rural dwellers; bolstering fiscal resilience; and embedding adaptability to future upheavals like climate migration or technological displacement. Only through comprehensive, shock-responsive systems can we safeguard sustainability and equity for generations.

����ֱ�� stands as a beacon in this endeavor, embodying a proactive vision that transcends rhetoric. Under Vision 2030, the transformative blueprint steered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom prioritizes a “vibrant society,” in which every citizen thrives in dignity and security. This ethos has propelled Saudi social protections to the vanguard, outpacing many global peers, as evidenced by their pivotal role during the COVID-19 onslaught. When borders closed and economies seized, Riyadh’s initiatives cushioned millions, averting deeper despair.

These efforts span a multifaceted arsenal of support, targeting the spectrum of vulnerability. Financial bulwarks like the Citizen Account Program deliver monthly stipends to offset economic reforms, shielding low-income households from subsidy phase-outs. The Augmented Social Security Program extends lifelines to the indigent, while subsidies for electricity and foodstuffs ensure nobody starves amid price surges. For the disabled, the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program fuses cash aid with integration services — vocational training, adaptive tech and workplace accommodations to foster independence and inclusion.

 ����ֱ�� stands as a beacon in this endeavor, embodying a proactive vision that transcends rhetoric. 

Dr. Turki Faisal Al-Rasheed

Youth and families receive tailored empowerment. The Orphan Care Program envelops bereaved children in holistic nurture, from education to emotional counseling. The Developmental Housing Program constructs affordable abodes, while the Productive Families Support Program ignites entrepreneurship among homemakers via microloans, skill workshops and market linkages. Newlyweds on modest means benefit from the Marriage Support Program, easing entry into family life. Elders, the Kingdom’s wisdom-keepers, access enriched health and leisure services through dedicated senior initiatives, affirming their honored place.

Agriculture, a rural lifeline, garners specialized succor. The Reef platform disburses grants for crop innovation and irrigation, while the Small Livestock Breeders Support Program offers, via the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s Nama portal, concessional loans to herders managing 50 to 250 animals, blending finance with advice on subjects such as droughts and market swings. Broader strokes include scholarships for needy students, stipends for martyrs’ kin and gender-focused protections elevating women’s economic agency.

These programs are not silos but synergistic engines of solidarity, weaving justice into the national tapestry. They alleviate poverty’s grip, elevate health metrics and kindle opportunities, whether through self-employment grants or youth apprenticeships, while curbing social ills such as unemployment-driven unrest. In a region rife with youth bulges and resource strains, such foresight yields dividends: a more equitable, innovative populace primed for global competition.

Yet, no system is impervious. Challenges persist, demanding vigilant evolution. Data integrity remains paramount, leveraging artificial intelligence and biometrics to pinpoint true need without waste. Delivery must be swift and stigma-free, piercing urban-rural divides and informal economies. Adequacy evolves with inflation; periodic audits ensure benefits scale accordingly. Sustainability hinges on diversified funding beyond oil, tapping zakat, public-private partnerships and green revenues to weather fiscal headwinds.

Coordination is the linchpin: seamless interplay among ministries of human resources, social development, labor, health and agriculture averts overlaps and gaps. Rapid-response protocols triggered by calamities like job loss, illness or natural disasters must activate within days, incorporating emerging cohorts such as gig workers or climate refugees. Finally, transparency and citizen feedback will refine these mechanisms, embedding public trust.

As the world hurtles toward a multipolar dawn, witnessing the wane of US-centric dominance and the stirrings of equitable globalism, Arab nations have a pivotal role. This juncture echoes the crown prince’s clarion call: the Saudi citizen is our paramount treasure. Nurturing this asset demands an unyielding social fortress, resilient against tempests yet expansive in embrace. By fortifying protections, we not only endure but excel, crafting societies where prosperity is shared, innovation flourishes and every individual contributes to a brighter horizon. In this fragile epoch, social protection is not optional, it is the bedrock of our collective renaissance.

• Dr. Turki Faisal Al-Rasheed is an adjunct professor at the University of Arizona’s College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, in the Department of Biosystems Engineering. He is the author of “Agricultural Development Strategies: The Saudi Experience.” X: @TurkiFRasheed