The Coming Economic Implosion of Saudi Arabia : A Behavioural Perspective

"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"--Publisher's website Annotation 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 Front Matter ....Pages i-xii Saudis Misbehaving? (David Cowan)....Pages 1-19 Front Matter ....Pages 21-21 Revolution or Obituary? (David Cowan)....Pages 23-51 Deconstructing the Saudi Economy (David Cowan)....Pages 53-78 The Islamic Welfare State (David Cowan)....Pages 79-101 Front Matter ....Pages 103-103 Oil Dependency and Cold War Politics (David Cowan)....Pages 105-131 A Theocracy Under Threat (David Cowan)....Pages 133-157 A Changing Political Theology (David Cowan)....Pages 159-179 Front Matter ....Pages 181-181 No Democracy Please, We’re Saudis (David Cowan)....Pages 183-203 Fideism I (David Cowan)....Pages 205-229 Fideism II (David Cowan)....Pages 231-250 Front Matter ....Pages 251-251 Theocracy and Secularization (David Cowan)....Pages 253-278 An Islamic Behavioral Perspective (David Cowan)....Pages 279-309 Back Matter ....Pages 311-317