Between Tradition and Ambition: Saudi Arabia's Strategic Evolution, 2000 2025: Power, Identity, Strategy in a Transforming State

The book analyzes how Saudi Arabia has redefined its national identity and regional role between 2000 and 2025. Key areas of focus include:Historical Foundations: Tracing the 1744 pact between the Al Saud family and Wahhabi clerics, and the subsequent formation of the modern state in 1932.Governance and Power: Examining the re-centralization of authority under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and the use of Vision 2030 to restructure the political and elite order.Economic Strategy: Assessing the "energy-economy nexus," specifically the transition from a traditional rentier state to the ambitious, yet oil-dependent, goals of Vision 2030 and megaprojects like NEOM.Foreign Policy: Detailing Riyadh's assertive regional posture, including rivalries with Iran and Qatar, the intervention in Yemen, and its "strategic hedging" between global powers like the U.S., China, and Russia.National Security: Analyzing threat perceptions regarding terrorism (Al-Qaeda), internal dissent, and regional instability.