Conference Statement

Although the domino impact of the Arab uprisings did not reach Saudi Arabia, the events prompted the Saudi leadership to rethink domestic and regional politics in addition to a revision of its international foreign policies. More recently, the dramatic decrease in oil prices, a commodity that is so important for Saudi Arabia and the global economy, undermined the old ways of distributing welfare and services. This pushed the leadership to search for short and long term solutions to contain this last episode of a recurrent economic crisis. The consolidation of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), together with the increase in terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia itself, and the regional rivalry with Iran that unfolded in Syria and Yemen added multiple regional challenges.

This workshop aims to explore the multiple trajectories facing Saudi Arabia whose stability is not only a domestic concern but is also a global worry for countries dependents on Middle East oil and for Muslims worldwide. Several renown international scholars drawn from history, politics and the social sciences will present their latest research and discuss with the audience important questions about Saudi  Arabia, its history, religious tradition, transnational connections and foreign policy. The conference will end with three authors presenting their books.