Abstract

Everyone talks about “Saudi money”, but no one really knows what it does. Journalist Krithika Varagur, a long-time chronicler of religion and politics, tells the story of Saudi influence as it has never been told before, in a book reported across the breadth of the Muslim world, from Nigeria to Indonesia to Kosovo. In this talk, Ms Varagur will discuss her recently released book, The Call: Inside the Global Saudi Religious Project (Columbia Global Reports, 2020), which connects the dots on Saudi Arabia’s campaign to propagate its brand of ultraconservative Islam worldwide after becoming oil-rich in the 20th century.

Ms Varagur has reported from diverse outposts of its influence, from a Saudi university in Jakarta to a beleaguered Shi’a movement in Nigeria, and found that the campaign has had remarkably broad effects, from the intolerance of religious minorities to the rise of powerful Saudi-educated clerics in far-flung countries. Over the years, the Kingdom has spent billions of dollars on its da’wa, or call to Islam, at many points with the direct support of the United States. But what have been the lasting effects of Saudi influence today? And what really happened to their campaign in the 21st century, after oil revenues slumped and after their activities became increasingly subject to international scrutiny? Drawing upon dozens of interviews, government records and historical research, The Call lays out what we really talk about when we talk about Saudi money.

Join us for this public talk, which will be conducted online via Zoom. All are welcome to participate. An e-invite will be sent to you nearing the event date.

This event is free, however, registration is compulsory. Please click here to register.

Image caption: In Riyadh, a Saudi man donates money to the Syrian people on 24 July 2012. Photo: STR/AFP.

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