Vision or Mirage: Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads: David Rundell: I.B. Tauris

Vision or Mirage

Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads

Vision or Mirage

Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads

Description

'Clear-eyed and illuminating.'
Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor

'A rich, superbly researched, balanced history of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.'
General David Petraeus, former Commander U.S. Central Command and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

'Destined to be the best single volume on the Kingdom.'
Ambassador Chas Freeman, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Assistant Secretary of Defense

'Should be prescribed reading for a new generation of political leaders.'
Sir Richard Dearlove, former Chief of H.M. Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Something extraordinary is happening in Saudi Arabia. A traditional, tribal society once known for its lack of tolerance is rapidly implementing significant economic and social reforms. An army of foreign consultants is rewriting the social contract, King Salman has cracked down hard on corruption, and his dynamic though inexperienced son, the Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, is promoting a more tolerant Islam. But is all this a new vision for Saudi Arabia or merely a mirage likely to dissolve into Iranian-style revolution?

David Rundell - one of America's foremost experts on Saudi Arabia - explains how the country has been stable for so long, why it is less so today, and what is most likely to happen in the future. The book is based on the author's close contacts and intimate knowledge of the country where he spent 15 years living and working as a diplomat. Vision or Mirage demystifies one of the most powerful, but least understood, states in the Middle East and is essential reading for anyone interested in the power dynamics and politics of the Arab World.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction

Part I: HISTORIC LEGITIMACY
Chapter 1: The House of Saud
Chapter 2: The Wars of Unification
Chapter 3: The Ikhwan Revolt

Part II: MANAGING SUCCESSION
Chapter 4: Kings Saud and Faisal
Chapter 5: Kings Khalid, Fahd, and Abdullah
Chapter 6: King Salman and MBS

Part III: BALANCING STAKEHOLDERS
Chapter 7: The Tribes
Chapter 8: The Clergy
Chapter 9: The Merchants
Chapter 10: The Technocrats
Chapter 11: The Royal Family

Part IV PROVIDING COMPETENT GOVERNMENT
Chapter 12: Providing Internal Security
Chapter 13: Promoting Rapid Economic Development
Chapter 14: Foreign Policy: Keeping Powerful Friends
Chapter 15: Foreign Policy: Deploying Oil and Islam
Chapter 16:Promoting Gradual Social Change

Part V ADAPTING TO CHANGE
Chapter 17: Economic Challenges: Oil Prices, Diversification and Jobs
Chapter 18: Security Challenges: Deploying Oil, Allies and Islam
Chapter 19: Political Challenges: Pluralism, Corruption, and Participation
Chapter 20: Evolving Arabia

Product details

Published	Sep 17 2020
Format	Hardback
Edition	1st
Extent	336
ISBN	9781838605933
Imprint	I.B. Tauris
Illustrations	34 b&w illus
Dimensions	234 x 156 mm
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

A book of staggering breadth and depth.

The Wall Street Journal
Rundell covers the kingdom from top to bottom with vast wisdom, depth and understanding … It provides a superb overview of the kingdom's political, economic and social landscape, but it goes well beyond that. Rundell explains, clearly and concisely, the special dynamics that drive the kingdom and render it so alien from our own society ... I wish that every United States diplomat, military officer and journalist would read this book before deploying there. I wish that every member of Congress would read it before voting on any measure related to Saudi Arabia. I wish every American pondering the frictions of our long relationship with the Saudis would read it simply to understand.

New York Times Book Review
At once modern and theocratic, reserved and assertive-Saudi Arabia's paradoxes defy easy comprehension. For those seeking to understand the Kingdom and its role in the world, longtime observer David Rundell has distilled his experience into a clear-eyed and illuminating explanation.

Henry A. Kissinger
'Excellent… analytically rigorous… exceptional…'

Financial Times
Vision or Mirage: Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads is a book that will prove incredibly illuminating to the average Westerner, who probably only thinks of sexism, theocracy and oil when he thinks about Saudi Arabia. Rundell uses history, theology, politics, economics and sociology to explain the current complexities and challenges of the Arabian Peninsula's most dominant nation.

Russell A Whitestone, Eurasia Review
Vision or Mirage is destined to be the best single volume on the Kingdom. It will be a long time, if ever, before it is bettered.

Chas Freeman, Former U.S Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Assistant Secretary of Defense, President of the Middle East Policy Council