Malise Ruthven: Unholy Kingdom

Malise Ruthven in conversation with David Burnett. A Bridport Literary Festival event. 

In recent years, the ruling family in Saudi Arabia, the House of Saud, has promoted the oil-rich kingdom as an open, liberalising nation that has invested in culture, tourism, and social innovation to become a beacon for the region. But the murder in 2018 of journalist Jamal Khashoggi reveals a darker reality: one of intensifying political and religious repression. This is within the tumultuous context of the war in Yemen, sectarian rivalry with Iran, the crisis in Gaza, and volatile relations with the United States. Malise Ruthven, a leading commentator on Islamic affairs, reconstructs the nation’s history, while looking to the nation’s future in the hands of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This essential book traces the shifting fault lines in the Middle East to determine Saudi Arabia’s place in our volatile times.

£14