The Islamic Utopia : The Illusion of Reform in Saudi Arabia

Highly informed inside account of the prospects for democracy in Saudi Arabia which challenges the West's alliance with the Saudi royal family. Will Saudi Arabia Join The Democratic Wave In The Middle East? Despite Being Surrounded By States Experiencing Uprisings And Revolutions, Saudi Arabia Appears To Be A Black Hole For Democracy In The Middle East - Secretive, Highly Repressive And Still Propped Up By The West. The Islamic Utopia Uses A Range Of Sources Including First-hand Reporting And Recently Released Wikileaks Documents To Examine Saudi Arabia In The Decade After The 9/11 Attacks, When King Abdullah's Reform Agenda Took Center State In Public Debate. It Considers Saudi Claims Of Exemption From The Democratic Demands Of The Arab Spring. Andrew Hammond Argues That For Too Long Western Media And Governments Have Accepted Saudi Leaders' Claims To Be A Buttress Against Jihadist Islam And That A New Policy Is Needed Towards The House Of Saud. -- Publisher Description. The Religious Society -- Government In The Sharia State -- The Warrior King And His Priests -- Segregated Nation -- The Illusion Of Reform -- Foreign Policy Adventurism : Iran And Palestine -- The Saudi Cordon Sanitaire In Arab Media -- Controlling Mecca : In The House Of God. Andrew Hammond. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 253-261) And Index. Will Saudi Arabia join the democratic wave in the Middle East? The uprisings and revolutions of the twenty-first century have not yet affected the stability of the House of Saud, which remains secretive, highly repressive and propped up by the West.

The Islamic Utopia uses a range of sources including first-hand reporting and recently released WikiLeaks documents to examine Saudi Arabia in the decade after the 9/11 attacks, when King Abdullah’s 'reform' agenda took centre stage in public debate. It considers Saudi claims of 'exemption' from the democratic demands of the Arab Spring.

Andrew Hammond argues that for too long Western media and governments have accepted Saudi leaders' claims to be a buttress against jihadist Islam and that a new policy is needed towards the House of Saud. Will Saudi Arabia join the democratic wave in the Middle East? The uprisings and revolutions of 2011 do not, yet, seem to have affected the stability of the House of Saud, which remains secretive, highly repressive and propped up by the West. The Islamic Utopia uses a range of sources including first-hand reporting and recently released WikiLeaks documents to examine Saudi Arabia in the decade after the 9/11 attacks, when King Abdullahs 'reform' agenda took centre stage in public debate. It considers Saudi claims of 'exemption' from the democratic demands of the Arab Spring. Andrew Hammond argues that for too long Western media and governments have accepted Saudi leaders' claims to be a buttress against jihadist Islam and that a new policy is needed towards the House of Saud. Intro -- Half-title Page -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Glossary -- Introduction -- 1 The Religious Society -- 2 Government in the Sharia State -- 3 The Warrior King and His Priests -- 4 Segregated Nation -- 5 The Illusion of Reform -- 6 Foreign Policy Adventurism: Iran and Palestine -- 7 The Saudi Cordon Sanitaire in Arab Media -- 8 Controlling Mecca: In the House of God -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index Cover Contents Glossary Introduction 1. The Religious Society 2. Government in the Sharia State 3. The Warrior King and His Priests 4. Segregated Nation 5. The Illusion of Reform 6. Foreign Policy Adventurism: Iran and Palestine 7. The Saudi Cordon Sanitaire in Arab Media 8. Controlling Mecca: In the House of God Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index Will Saudi Arabia join the democratic wave in the Middle East? The uprisings and revolutions of 2011 do not, yet, seem to have affected the stability of the House of Saud, which remains secretive, highly repressive and propped up by the West. This book examines Saudi Arabia in the decade after the 9/11 attacks A challenge to the West's alliance with the Saudi royal family