*https://www.arabnews.com/node/1602711* <https://www.arabnews.com/node/1602711>
*Saudi Arabia’s progress is built on civic rights* [image: Author] <https://www.arabnews.com/taxonomy/term/287696> RAZAN FARHAN ALAQIL <https://www.arabnews.com/taxonomy/term/287696> With Saudi Arabia making political, economic and social progress every day, one cannot help but wonder how we, as citizens, can contribute to this growth. The distinction between citizens’ rights and responsibilities is very thin. There are a number of theoretical and rhetorical perspectives on what people have a “right” to expect from their government, but also on what they should contribute “for” the government. These views are sometimes wrongly understood and conveyed. In academia and history, there are many dimensions when discussing this topic. But let us narrow them down. The concept of citizenship is very deep. It is the relation of an individual to his roots, and the situation in the Kingdom is particularly interesting. Historically speaking, rights are based on a “social contract” between the government and its citizens. Within that framework, people receive their rights in a passive, rather than an active manner. Citizens’ rights come as part of a whole, completing and complementing one another. Saudis have political, economic and social rights that we, as individuals, can expect from the government. These rights make us who we are as a society and define our citizenship. The Kingdom is growing rapidly and is rich in opportunity. These opportunities highlight the citizen’s role as a responsible member of society who contributes to its growth — an active citizen. With the introduction of Vision 2030 in 2016, a wave of diversification was introduced and a shift in the social mindset took place. The will to change and contribute resulted in a greater sense of citizen responsibility, along with a shift in people’s perceptions about their rights and responsibilities. Social significance in Saudi Arabia now is being developed by both the government and the citizenry, as people become more aware of the role they have to play in developing the nation. Why be responsible when we have granted rights? Because there is an intersection where rights and responsibilities meet, and that is called citizenship. “Active” social forces have brought an increase in engagement and participation on the part of Saudis. This development is much more inclusive, with youth and a broad range of the population actively engaged and invested in empowerment and national development. As the government encourages individuals to thrive in business and other sectors with policies and regulations that promote development, citizens are becoming increasingly and independently active in contributing to the nation’s progress. It is important to underline the word “independently” because the beauty of civic responsibility is that it cannot be enforced but has to come from within. In the Kingdom, this contribution follows naturally from love for our homeland and its leadership. When we become active members of society, contributing to its growth and development, we act as drivers of future development. With such a role, responsibility is thus achieved. With responsibility, prosperity through sustainable development is reached. *Razan Farhan Alaqil is a political science, international comparative politics and global studies graduate. @Razan_Alaqeel* *Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point-of-view*
