Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Chapter 1: Saudis Misbehaving?
Part I. Economic Implosion
Chapter 2: Revolution or Obituary?
Chapter 3: Deconstructing the Saudi Economy
Chapter 4: The Islamic Welfare State
Part II. Political Implosion
Chapter 5: Oil Dependency and Cold War Politics
Chapter 6: A Theocracy Under Threat
Chapter 7: A Changing Political Theology
Part III. Religious Implosion
Chapter 8: No Democracy Please, We're Saudis
Chapter 9: Fideism I
Chapter 10: Fideism II
Part IV: Conclusion
Chapter 11: Theocracy and Secularization
Chapter 12: Theocracy and Secularization
Synopsis
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is at a crossroads economically, and faces the challenge of a weakening economy that could implode before 2030, the year set as a timetable by the kingdom in its Vision 2030. How it navigates its way out of these economic troubles demands understanding a complex of religious, political and economic factors, which currently makes it one of the most unpredictable states in the world and, by the same token, one of the most fascinating. The problem of the Saudi economy cannot simply be argued economically, it needs political and religious solutions as well. Cowan takes a behavioural approach to analysing the Saudi economy. Predicting an implosion under the weight of its own ideologically-fuelled economy if it does not reset its agenda, this interdisciplinary book provides important insights into Saudi Arabia's position in the Islamic world and global economy.