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
One of America’s foremost experts on Saudi Arabia explains why the country has been stable for so long and what its future might be
David Rundell studied Arabic at Oxford and served as an American diplomat for thirty years in Washington, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. Over those three decades he spent fifteen years in the kingdom working at the Embassy in Riyadh as well as the Consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran. His assignments in Saudi Arabia included the Chief of Mission, Charge d’Affaires, Deputy Chief of Mission, Political Counselor, Economic Counselor, Commercial Counselor and Commercial Attaché. He has won numerous awards for his analytical reporting, and participated in Operation Desert Storm, Saudi accession to the World Trade Organization and the defeat of the al-Qaeda terror campaign in Saudi Arabia.
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*
[T]he author hits all the necessary benchmarks in his assessment of
the Kingdom’s development. The book must also be regarded as a
great accomplishment in the study of the Kingdom and its new
leadership.
*Middle East Journal*
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*
Saudi Arabia has always been difficult for outsiders to understand,
but it will be much less so now thanks to David Rundell. With
insightful analysis of the roles of the ruling family, the tribal
structure, the merchant class and the religious leadership, he
forges all the pieces into a coherent whole that will enlighten
specialists and novices alike.
*Thomas W. Lippman, author of Saudi Arabia on the Edge*
A rich, superbly researched, balanced history of the modern Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia. David Rundell was one of the State Department’s
pre-eminent authorities on Saudi Arabia and the Arab world, one on
whom those of us working in the region depended heavily, and this
history reflects his decades of experience in the region, his eye
for nuance and detail, his deep understanding of the culture and
relationships in the kingdom, and his exceptional ability to
distill and present all of that brilliantly.
*General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), former Commander of the US
Central Command and the Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, and former
Director of the CIA*
This is a rare and important work on Saudi Arabia. Any diplomat,
military official, policy maker or businessperson whose portfolio
touches the kingdom will make far better decisions for having read
it. I had the pleasure of working with Diplomat David Rundell
during my service in the KSA. He provided sage advice and
observations then, just as he will do for you in this splendid and
useful book.
*Ambassador James Oberwetter, Former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi
Arabia*
David Rundell is America’s most knowledgeable diplomat on Saudi
Arabia. This book, Vision or Mirage, is a deeply learned and
nuanced account of the kingdom’s history, politics and economics.
Without illusions or an ideological axe to grind, Rundell offers
acute observations about the strengths and weaknesses of the
country, based on nearly two decades of having lived and served in
Saudi Arabia. He brings the country’s remarkable story up to the
present and explains the important transformations taking place
under King Salman and his son crown prince Muhammad (MBS) and what
is at stake in their success or failure. You will not find a better
book on the kingdom.
*Bernard Haykel, Professor of Near East Studies, Princeton
University; Co-Author Saudi Arabia in Transition*
The author of this book is "pro-Saudi", and at the same time he is
entirely objective. He reconciles direct opposites not by fudging
the differences, but by offering us his uniquely deep knowledge of
a country and a state that remain poorly documented. This is a very
valuable book.
*Edward Luttwak, , Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and
International Studies, Washington D.C*
Whenever I landed in Jeddah or Riyadh and wanted to discover what
was really going on, the ‘man-in-the-sand’ whose expertise I always
sought out first was David Rundell, the Quiet American who had the
‘ inside scoop’ on the politics, the business and, above all, the
people of the ever-challenging Kingdom — the ‘Rundell Rumble’. Dave
was always just back from some oasis or tribe or border territory
where secret things were happening, or heading for the desert to
pow-wow with the king. So pow-wow now with Dave as his brilliant
book generously discloses a lifetime of wisdom and insights that
take the reader inside one of the world’s most enigmatic and
crucially important of lands. Saudi Arabia? It’s all in here . . .
Whenever I landed in Jeddah or Riyadh and wanted to discover what
was really going on, the ‘man-in-the-sand’ whose expertise I always
sought out first was David Rundell, the Quiet American who had the
‘ inside scoop’ on the politics, the business and, above all, the
people of the ever-challenging Kingdom — the ‘Rundell Rumble’. Dave
was always just back from some oasis or tribe or border territory
where secret things were happening, or heading for the desert to
pow-wow with the king. So pow-wow now with Dave as his brilliant
book generously discloses a lifetime of wisdom and insights that
take the reader inside one of the world’s most enigmatic and
crucially important of lands. Saudi Arabia? It’s all in here . .
.
*Robert Lacey, author of The Kingdom and Inside the Kingdom*
‘A thorough historical and contemporary guide to the enigma that is
the House of Saud, to its Kingdom and to its latest political
intrigues. A great single read on a complex subject, key to
understanding the Arab World’s likely evolution. Should be
prescribed reading for a new generation of political leaders.’
*Sir Richard Dearlove, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the
University of London; Former Chief of the Secret Intelligence
Service (MI6); Former Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge*
Amidst an array of parabolic pressures ranging from geopolitical
forces to economic uncertainty and domestic instability, the House
of Saud has long been one of the most powerful families in the
Middle East. In spite of this, it faces a number of existential
challenges as it moves into the 21st century. Vision or Mirage:
Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads offers a fascinating and timely
exploration of how the Al Saud dynasty has retained power which is
essential in understanding how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia may
evolve in the coming years.
*Simon Mabon Senior Lecturer, Lancaster University; author of
Houses Built on Sand, The Origins of ISIS and Saudi Arabia and
Iran*
A readable and breezy account of recent developments in Saudi
Arabia as well as the author’s interpretation of the
transformational and polarizing trends during the last several
years. It is a noteworthy contribution to the field.
*J. E. Peterson, historian and political analyst, author of Saudi
Arabia Under Ibn Saud and Historical Dictionary of Saudi
Arabia*
David Rundell has more experience in Saudi Arabia than any living
American diplomat. I relied upon his experience and insight during
my time as ambassador to the Kingdom. Rundell’s eye for detail and
meticulous research provide the reader with a compelling story of
initial conquest and generations of stability followed by a
tectonic rupture in the social contract among the ruler, the royal
family, and the population.
*Robert W. Jordan, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Diplomat
in Residence, John G. Tower Center at Southern Methodist
University*
This is a scholarly and expertly crafted practitioner’s account
borne of deep familiarity with Saudi Arabia. David Rundell’s
remarkable book artfully weaves together the Saudi past and
present--deftly analyzing both continuity and change while
providing sorely needed context for understanding today’s
unprecedented developments.
*Joshua Teitelbaum, Bar-Ilan University, Israel; Visiting Scholar,
Center for International and Security Cooperation, Stanford
University; Author of Saudi Arabia and the New Strategic
Landscape*
A very balanced account of what Saudi Arabia got right, which is
often overlooked, and the accumulating challenges the country faces
today. Carefully researched, it is neither all gloom and doom nor
all-praising.
*John Sfakianakis, Fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge; Co-author
of The Saudi Economy in the Twentieth Century*
A most impressive account of the cunning manner in which King
Salman is attempting to secure his family’s place in the 21st
century by establishing the fourth kingdom through his son Muhammad
bin Salman. David Rundell's insights into historical precedents and
personal knowledge of the personalities of the individuals involved
is compelling and provides a far more credible narrative of Saudi
developments since the death of the late Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz
than other current analysis .
*Ambassador Mark G. Hambley, Former American Consul General in
Jeddah and Ambassador to Qatar and Lebanon*
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