by Ali Al Shihabi (Author), Bernard Kaykel (Preface by)
The Saudi Kingdom: Between the Jihadi Hammer and the Iranian Anvil presents a candid and insightful analysis of Saudi Arabia's political instability in light of the mounting domestic and international challenges facing the country today. Directly addressing Saudi Arabia's inert monarchical ruling system, its foundational alliance with the Wahhabi establishment, and its increasingly dangerous environment populated with a diverse set of enemies, Ali al Shihabi, an insider of the ruling circles and a political analyst, looks at the prospects for the survival of this opaque monarchy and suggests ideas for reform that may help it better withstand the turbulent winds of change. The book explores the history of modern Arabia, the Wahhabi ulema, the jihadi threat, the anger of today's youth, the mystique of state power, the Iranian rivalry, and the country's challenges to the Gulf States.