A History of Saudi Arabia

by Madawi al-Rasheed

• ISBN13: 9780521747547
• ISBN10: 0521747546
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-05-17
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This updated edition analyses the challenges, both internal and external, facing Saudi Arabia in the twenty-first century. Two new chapters discuss the political, economic and social developments in the aftermath of 9/11, painting a vivid picture of a country shocked by terrorism and condemned by the international community. Madawi Al-Rasheed reveals that fragmentation of royal politics, a failing economy and fermenting Islamist dissent posed serious threats to state and society in 2001. She assesses the consequent state reforms introduced under pressure of terrorism, international scrutiny and a social mobilisation of men, women and minorities struggling to shape their future against a background of repression and authoritarian rule. While Saudi Arabia is still far from establishing a fourth state, there are signs that the people are ready for a serious change that will lead them to a state of institutions rather than princes.

Author Biography

Madawi Al-Rasheed is Professor of Anthropology of Religion at King's College, London. She specialises in Saudi history, politics, religion and society. Her recent publications include Contesting the Saudi State (2007) and Kingdom without Borders (2008).

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	p. x
List of tables	p. xi
Preface	p. xii
Chronology	p. xvi
Glossary	p. xx
Saudi Arabia, main regions and cities	p. xxiii
Saudi Arabia, main tribes	p. xxiv
Introduction	p. 1
Society and politics, 1744-1818 and 1824-1891	p. 13
The origins of Al Sa'ud (1744-1818)	p. 14
A fragile Sa'udi revival (1824-1891)	p. 22
The Rashidi emirate in Ha'il (1836-1921)	p. 25
The Sharifian emirate in Hijaz	p. 29
Hasa in the nineteenth century	p. 33
Emirate formation in Arabia	p. 35
The emerging state, 1902-1932	p. 37
The capture of Riyadh (1902)	p. 37
The First World War and Ibn Sa'ud (1914-1918)	p. 39
The capture of Ha'il (1921)	p. 41
The capture of Hijaz (1925)	p. 42
The mutawwa'a of Najd	p. 42
The ikhwan	p. 56
An alliance not so holy: Ibn Sa'ud, the mutawwa'a and the ikhwan	p. 59
The collapse of the ikhwan rebellion	p. 66
Control and loyalty, 1932-1953	p. 69
Marginalising Sa'udi collateral branches	p. 69
Consolidating Ibn Sa'ud's line of descent	p. 71
Power and pomp in the pre-oil era: the majlis	p. 77
Srate affairs	p. 83
The oil concession (1933)	p. 87
Oil in commercial quantities	p. 89
Oil and society in the 1940s and 1950s	p. 92
Saudi Arabia and Britain	p. 97
The end of an era	p. 101
The politics of dissent, 1953-1973	p. 102
The reign of King Sa'ud (1953-1964)	p. 102
Saudi Arabia and the Arab world in the 1950s	p. 110
Saudi Arabia and the United States in the 1950s and early 1960s	p. 113
The reign of King Faysal (1964-1975)	p. 116
Faysal and die Arab world	p. 124
From affluence to austerity, 1973-1990	p. 130
Affluence: the oil embargo (1973)	p. 131
Vulnerabilities: Sa'udi-American relations in the 1970s	p. 135
The reign of King Khalid (1975-1982)	p. 138
Austerity: die reign of King Fahd (1982-2005)	p. 143
Saudi Arabia and the Gulf context in the 1980s	p. 150
Sa'udi-American relations in the 1980s	p. 154
The Gulf War and its aftermath, 1990-2000	p. 158
Sa'udi responses to the Gulf War	p. 163
State responses: the reforms of March 1992	p. 166
The Islamist opposition	p. 171
Succession	p. 180
Narratives of the state, narratives of the people	p. 182
Official historiography	p. 183
Political speech	p. 190
The historical narrative challenged	p. 192
The centennial celebrations: the capture of Riyadh revisited	p. 197
The centennial celebrations challenged	p. 208
The challenges of a new era	p. 211
Internal challenges	p. 212
External pressures	p. 233
Modernising authoritarian rule	p. 242
The state reformist agenda	p. 242
A new king	p. 253
Society's reformist agenda	p. 261
Conclusion	p. 275
Al Sa'ud rulers in Dir'iyyah (1744-1818)	p. 278
Al Sa'ud rulers in Riyadh (1824-1891)	p. 279
Ibn Sa'ud's sons (1900-1953)	p. 280
Notes	p. 281
Bibliography	p. 291
Index	p. 306
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