Saudi Arabia is going through one of the most difficult periods in its modern history. Oil prices have dropped from a July 2014 high of $115 per barrel to less than $30 per barrel in January this year. The country is surrounded by failed states: Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Syria and, arguably, Lebanon. It has a demographic bulge of ambitious, but exceedingly frustrated, young men and women whose expectations differ dramatically from those of their parents. And it faces an emboldened Iran eager to interfere in the affairs of Arab countries, and with the financial wherewithal to do so, via proxy armed militia.
沙特阿拉伯正在经历其现代历史上最艰难的时期之一。油价从2014年7月115美元/桶的高点跌至今年1月的不足30美元/桶。该国周围还尽是失败国家：伊拉克、利比亚、也门、叙利亚，可能还应该把黎巴嫩也算进去。从人口结构上说，沙特有大量雄心勃勃、却极度郁闷的年轻男女，这些人的期望与他们的父母截然不同。同时胆子越来越大的伊朗热衷于干预阿拉伯国家事务，而且也有财力通过代理其利益的武装民兵这么做。