The Saudi Kingdom: Between the Jihadi Hammer and the Iranian Anvil

by Ali Al Shihabi, Bernard Haykel

The Saudi Kingdom 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.

Genres: Politics, Middle East

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 22, 2015

Reviews

[11811 (Eleven) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Required reading for anyone interested in the region.

[Mohammad Alshahrani]

Another great book by Ali AlShihabi, a Princeton and Harvard Saudi grad, who gives one of the best analyses of The Saudi Kingdom. Short, and very easy to read (as was Arabian War Games).

[JM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting perspective on the well known issues facing Saudi Arabia. Quite deferential to the Royal family, and therefore punches are pulled, but the author is a product of Saudi society, so it's not surprising.

[Khaled Barebow · Rating 4 out of 5]

We'll crafted and insightful

Surprisingly good read from an author who is neither a formal scholar on geopolitics nor a writer. Very impressed with Mr. Al Shihabi's analysis and even more with his recommendations on the way forward. We'll done.

[N · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled to understand what Ali Shihabi hoped to achieve with this book. If we were to ask him, I suspect even he might struggle to articulate a clear answer. It seems Shihabi believed that writing books would establish him as a widely respected scholar and secure him a seat at the table when building his Saudi-backed think tank, the Arabia Foundation, in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, the books turned out to be uninspiring, reductionist, and inaccurate, while the think tank ultimately failed.

Shihabi’s understanding of the West, the East, and even Saudi Arabia itself seems superficial. Yet, he isn’t exactly an outsider—he was present during a transformative period in Saudi history. While he has access to decision-makers and a wealth of facts about the kingdom, his interpretations should be approached with caution. Shihabi’s analysis often feels detached from the deeper issues, particularly when it comes to the complexities of political Islam, jihadism, Khomenism, etc, subjects he seems to sidestep entirely.

This book by Shihabi reduces Saudi Arabia’s geopolitical challenges to an overly simplistic binary: trapped between the threats of jihadism and Iranian rivalry. The metaphor of a "hammer" and "anvil," while dramatic, lacks nuance and fails to capture the complexity of Saudi Arabia’s regional and internal dynamics. This framing not only reinforces a conflict-centric view of the kingdom but also portrays Saudi Arabia as a passive victim rather than an active agent in shaping its destiny.

The book is filled with surface-level characterizations of Saudi Arabia’s political, social, and economic spheres, lacking the depth or rigor needed for a meaningful contribution to the discourse. It reads more like an exercise in self-positioning than a genuine scholarly effort.

While his fluent English might help his arguments appear polished, the book itself lacks the intellectual rigor or vision needed to make a lasting impact. For readers seeking a deep and nuanced understanding of Saudi Arabia, this book ultimately falls short.