Salman's Legacy: The Dilemmas of a New Era in Saudi Arabia

by Madawi AlRasheed مضاوي الرشيد

King Salman of Saudi Arabia began his rule in 2015 confronted with a series of unprecedented challenges. The dilemmas he has faced are new and significant, from leadership shuffles and falling oil prices to regional and international upheaval. Salman's Legacy interrogates this era and assesses its multiple social, political, regional and international challenges. Whether Salman's policies have saved the kingdom from serious upheaval is yet to be seen, but no doubt a new kingdom is emerging.

This book offers historical and contemporary insights into the various problems that persist in haunting the Saudi state. Madawi Al-Rasheed brings together well-established historians and social scientists with deep knowledge of Saudi Arabia--its history, culture and contemporary politics--to reflect on Salman's kingdom. They trace both policy continuities and recent ruptures that have perplexed observers of Saudi Arabia. This lucid and nuanced analysis invites serious reflection on the Saudi leadership's capacity to withstand the recent challenges, especially those that came with the Arab uprisings. At stake is the future of a country that remains vital to regional stability, international security, and the global economy.

Genres: Middle East, Politics, Biography, History, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Madawi Al-Rasheed is Visiting Professor at the Middle East Centre at LSE and Research Fellow at the Open Society Foundation. She was Professor of Anthropology of Religion at King’s College, London between 1994 and 2013. Previously, she was Prize Research Fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford. She also taught at Goldsmith College (University of London) and the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oxford.

Reviews

[Basmaish]

This is probably best used for academic work or reference but me being me I read it for my pure enjoyment and my curiosity of wanting to know more and this book delivered!

The content of the book is very timely and mentions a lot of the recent changes happening in the country as well as background information. Madawi Al-Rasheed continues to prove how valuable her work and research is in this area as well as the contributors in the collection. It features essays from different people and the book is mainly divided into three sections: State and Society, Saudi Arabia and Transnational Salafiyya, and Foreign Relations. It covers topics such as succession, sectarianism, Saudi feminism, Salafisim, Wahhabism, the Cold War...etc.

It's incredibly interesting if you're interested in the topic. This is written as academic text so you can definitely expect the writing style to reflect that. Sometimes things may have went a little over my head and that calls for more research and reading.

[Around the world pick for Saudi Arabia.]

[Jack Greenberg]

Note that this volume contains several edited essays. It is best used as a reference for academic work. The book is divided into three sections -- State and Society, Saudi Arabia and Transnational Salafiyya, and Foreign Relations. The second section was the most difficult to get through and had the loosest connection to King Salman and MBS. Most relevant chapters are those by Madawai Al-Rasheed and Steffen Hertog.

[Angela O'Meara]

Complexity

Well written and edited. Insights into Kingdom and regional complexities and balancing dynamic essential reading for understanding where the future may lead.