Review (PDF) The Saudi Kingdom
The Saudi Kingdom presents a rare, honest, and insightful analysis of Saudi Arabia's political stability in light of the mounting domestic and international challenges facing the country today. Directly addressing Saudi Arabia's inert monarchical ruling system, its foundational alliance with the Wahhabi establishment, and its increasingly dangerous environment populated with a diverse set of enemies, Ali Shihabi, a Saudi banker and political analyst, looks at the prospects for the survival of this difficult-to-penetrate monarchy and suggests ideas for reform that may help it better withstand the turbulent winds of change.
Paperback: 228 pages
Publisher: Markus Wiener Publishers; 1st edition (September 12, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1558766138
ISBN-13: 978-1558766136
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #1,436,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #180 in Books > History > Middle East > Saudi Arabia
Ali Al Shihabi has written a very concise and I believe (based on living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for 25+ years) factual & realistic book. That's not entirely surprising since I know Mr. Al Shihabi lived / worked in Saudi (I met him 2x-3x long ago) and has indeed regularly associated with both senior Saudi & Middle East business leaders as well as members of the Saudi royal family. In a few words, he is a very credible individual. Also I'm sure his US education (Princeton and Harvard) education prepared him nicely for this book after his career.The book does a good job of identifying and critically commenting on major issues now confronting and very, very important in & to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates). These include the Saudi social, demographic, and political (power) structure today, religion (Sunni versus Shiite), Iran, Yemen as well as a historic perspective on how these situations developed. I firmly believe one needs to accurately identify and define the problem before any real, sustainable solution is possible; this book does a good job in the problem identification side as well as offers general thoughts on possible solutions.Recommended reading for anyone considering or already engaged in Saudi or GCC business as well as policy makers. Home country briefings whether corporate or government simply don't provide the same insights as a book like this one. It's a fast 151-page read.
Ali Shihabi provides the most up-to-date analysis on the domestic and regional challenges facing the kingdom. The author, a Saudi national, has intimate knowledge of Saudi society, politics and the country's economic system. The book is short, very readable and the author does not pull his punches. It is also very timely given the recent power transition that took place in Riyadh.
The Saudi Kingdom is a laconic, precise, objective and yet passionate description of the country at crossroads. The writing is brilliant and forceful, and the book is a pleasure to read. Ali al Shihabi paints a vivid and compelling picture of Saudi Arabia and also of the region as whole. After reading the Saudi Kingdom, I now for the first time have a coherent understanding of the complexity of the regional politics. My favorite part of the book is the author's shrewd argument for gradual and cautious reform under the continuing leadership of the House of Saud. The part that surprised me the most was a footnote analysis of the Russian Bolshevik Revolution. A truly delightful read.
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