Comparative models of religious moderation in muslim-majority countries: An analysis of alternative approaches and frameworks in Saudi Arabia

This study examines the evolving landscape of religious moderation in Muslim-majority countries, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia's transformative approach under Vision 2030. Through a comparative analysis of alternative frameworks and approaches, this study explores how different models of religious moderation have emerged across the Islamic world, with Saudi Arabia representing a unique case of state-led, moderate reform. This study employs a qualitative comparative methodology to analyze policy documents, governmental initiatives, and scholarly discourse from to 2015-2024. This study primarily focuses on Saudi Arabia as the central case owing to its unique position and Vision 2030 transformation, supplemented by a comparative analysis including Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates. These nations were selected based on their diverse approaches to religious moderation (gradual reform, pluralistic integration, and strategic transformation) and their significance as Muslim-majority countries in the global arena. The findings reveal that Saudi Arabia's model of religious moderation differs significantly from other Muslim-majority nations through its top-down approach, emphasis on economic diversification as a driver of social change, and strategic balancing of traditional Islamic values with modernization imperatives. This study identifies three primary models of religious moderation: the gradual reform model (Malaysia, Indonesia), pluralistic integration model (Morocco, Tunisia), and strategic transformation model (Saudi Arabia, UAE). This analysis contributes to understanding how Muslim-majority countries navigate the complex relationship between religious authenticity and contemporary global integration, offering insights for policymakers and scholars studying the religious governance in the Islamic world.