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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.
List of contents
Chapter 1: Saudis Misbehaving?.- Part I. Economic Implosion.- Chapter 2: An Economic Revolution or Obituary?.- Chapter 3: Deconstructing the Saudi Economy?.- Chapter 4: The Saudi Welfare State.- Part II. Political Implosion.- Chapter 5: Oil Dependency and Cold War Politics.- Chapter 6: The End of Oil Power.- Chapter 7: An Islamic Political Theology.- Part III. Religious Implosion.- Chapter 8: Religious Implosion.- Chapter 9: Saudi Fideism I.- Chapter 10: Saudi Fideism II.- Part IV: Conclusion.- Chapter 11: Theocracy and Secularization.- Chapter 12: An Islamic Behavioural Perspective.
About the author
David Cowan is an independent researcher and author. He has been a communications advisor to global corporations, and is a former visiting scholar at Boston College, USA. He has worked for numerous financial and industrial organisations, with over 25 years of experience, and contributes regularly to many publications including the
Catholic Herald,
Times Literary Supplement and
Journal of Theological Studies. He studied at Glasgow (UK), Oxford (UK) and St Andrews (UK), where he earned his PhD in the schools of Divinity and International Relations. His last book
Frank H. Knight: Prophet of Freedomwas published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2016.
Summary
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.
