Vision or Mirage, David Rundell
Vision or Mirage, David Rundell
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Vision or Mirage
Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads

Author: David Rundell

Narrator: Fajer Al-Kaisi

Unabridged: 13 hr 41 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 09/08/2021


Synopsis

Something extraordinary is happening in Saudi Arabia. A traditional, tribal society once known for its lack of tolerance is rapidly implementing significant economic and social reforms. An army of foreign consultants is rewriting the social contract, King Salman has cracked down hard on corruption, and his dynamic though inexperienced son, the Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, is promoting a more tolerant Islam. But is all this a new vision for Saudi Arabia or merely a mirage likely to dissolve into Iranian-style revolution?

David Rundell—one of America's foremost experts on Saudi Arabia—explains how the country has been stable for so long, why it is less so today, and what is most likely to happen in the future. The book is based on the author's close contacts and intimate knowledge of the country where he spent fifteen years living and working as a diplomat. Vision or Mirage demystifies one of the most powerful, but least understood, states in the Middle East and is essential for anyone interested in the power dynamics and politics of the Arab World.

About David Rundell

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. Widely regarded as one America's leading experts on Saudi Arabia, he spent fifteen years in the country where he worked 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 Attache. He has numerous awards for his analytical reporting and participated in Operation Desert Storm, Saudi accession to the World Trade Organization, and the defeat of Al Qaida's terror campaign. After retiring from the Foreign Service he spent three years at the Boston-based consultancy Monitor Group before joining Arabia Analytica as a partner. He lives in Dubai and travels regularly to Saudi Arabia.


Reviews

Goodreads review by John

When hearing the terms “women’s rights” or “corruption crackdown”, most people won’t think of Saudi Arabia. However, change is the only constant and that truism currently holds in the world’s sole theocratic monarchy. The main catalyst for this recent change is Vision or Mirage: Saudi Arabia at the......more

Goodreads review by Cav

"The king and his son are not trying to make Saudi Arabia more democratic, but they are trying to make it more stable, prosperous, and religiously tolerant. They have a vision, but will it prove to be a mirage? Should the West shun them or seek to help them—and, if so, how? To answer these questions......more

Goodreads review by Sharath

Saudi Arabia a key country for our world. This book unlocks it. Rundell has a deep, personal understanding that he matches with the history of the country. I do think if you read this book, you will better understand why MBS and Al-Saud do what they do. This is a unique country with limited similari......more