New Book Portends Crisis, Possible Revolt in Saudi Arabia
Though the Hapsburgs, Romanovs and Pahlavis are gone, the House of Saud survives. But for how long? Bruce Riedel reviews a new book by Karen Elliot House, who presents an ominous picture of a country seething with internal tensions and anger.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an antique, the last absolute monarchy in the world, perhaps the last in human history. The Hapsburgs, Romanovs and Pahlavis are gone but the House of Saud survives. But for how long?
Perhaps the greatest international challenge the next US president could face is a revolution in Saudi Arabia if the royal family’s time runs out.
A timely new book, On Saudi Arabia: Its People, Past, Religion, Fault Lines and Future by Karen Elliot House, presents an ominous picture of a country seething with internal tensions and anger.
Sixty percent of Saudis are 20 or younger, most of whom have no hope of a job. Seventy percent of Saudis can not afford to own a home. Forty percent live below the poverty line.
