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The Coming Economic Implosion of Saudi Arabia

A Behavioral Perspective

  • Book
  • © 2018

Overview

Authors:
  1. David Cowan

    1. Boston College, Boston, MA, USA

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  • Analyses how Saudi Arabia can protect its ideological existence as well as its economy
  • Suggests Saudi Islam risks losing its position in global Islam, creating great dysfunction for both the Islamic world and the global economy
  • Examines the changing relationship between Saudi Arabia and America

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xii
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  2. Saudis Misbehaving?

    • David Cowan
    Pages 1-19

  3. Economic Implosion

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 21-21
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    2. Revolution or Obituary?

      • David Cowan
      Pages 23-51

    3. Deconstructing the Saudi Economy

      • David Cowan
      Pages 53-78

    4. The Islamic Welfare State

      • David Cowan
      Pages 79-101

  4. Political Implosion

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 103-103
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    2. Oil Dependency and Cold War Politics

      • David Cowan
      Pages 105-131

    3. A Theocracy Under Threat

      • David Cowan
      Pages 133-157

    4. A Changing Political Theology

      • David Cowan
      Pages 159-179

  5. Religious Implosion

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 181-181
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    2. No Democracy Please, We’re Saudis

      • David Cowan
      Pages 183-203

    3. Fideism I

      • David Cowan
      Pages 205-229

    4. Fideism II

      • David Cowan
      Pages 231-250

  6. Conclusion

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 251-251
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    2. Theocracy and Secularization

      • David Cowan
      Pages 253-278

    3. An Islamic Behavioral Perspective

      • David Cowan
      Pages 279-309

  7. Back Matter

    Pages 311-317
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Keywords

About this book

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is at a crossroads economically, and faces the challenge of a weakening economy that could implode before 2030, the year set as a timetable by the kingdom in its Vision 2030. How it navigates its way out of these economic troubles demands understanding a complex of religious, political and economic factors, which currently makes it one of the most unpredictable states in the world and, by the same token, one of the most fascinating. The problem of the Saudi economy cannot simply be argued economically, it needs political and religious solutions as well. Cowan takes a behavioural approach to analysing the Saudi economy. Predicting an implosion under the weight of its own ideologically-fuelled economy if it does not reset its agenda, this interdisciplinary book provides important insights into Saudi Arabia's position in the Islamic world and global economy.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Boston College, Boston, MA, USA

    David Cowan

About the author

David Cowan is an independent researcher and author. He has been a communications advisor to global corporations, and is a former visiting scholar at Boston College, USA. He has worked for numerous financial and industrial organisations, with over 25 years of experience, and contributes regularly to many publications including the Catholic Herald, Times Literary Supplement and Journal of Theological Studies. He studied at Glasgow (UK), Oxford (UK) and St Andrews (UK), where he earned his PhD in the schools of Divinity and International Relations. His last book Frank H. Knight: Prophet of Freedom was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2016.

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