This book provides a new perspective on the study of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its monarchy its political leadership and decisions. Moreover, it analyzes how that decision-making evolved before, during, and after the ArabIsraeli War of 1973, and the subsequent Arab oil embargo that followed; the run-up to and aftermath of the 1975 murder of King Faysal; discussions over the oil weapon; and Saudi responses to the Carter presidency in the United States. Through the prism of tribal decision-making, this book sheds new light on a number of important political events, which have shaped the political leadership in Saudi Arabia, and explores the behind-the-scenes workings of the Saudi royal family.

Sheds new light on the secretive dealings of the Saudi royal family Allows readers to better grasp how the Saudi political system functions Argues that the royal family has been highly pragmatic when formulating decisions

Autorentext
Samuel Willner is Research Fellow at the University of Haifa, Israel.

Inhalt
1.Introduction.- PART I: THE FOUNDATIONS OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN SAUDI ARABIA.- 2. Tribal decision-making: From traditional to modern context.- 3. Central characteristics of Saudi foreign policy.- PART II: THE 1973 ARAB-ISRAELI WAR AND THE ARAB OIL EMBARGO.- 4. Emerging pan-Arabism and the politicization of Arab oil.- 5. Conflicting interests and King Faysal's decision to support Egypt's war efforts.- PART III: THE END OF THE OIL EMBARGO AND THE MURDER OF KING FAYSAL.- 6. Towards the end of the oil embargo.- 7. Faysal's threats of a new oil embargo.- 8. The murder of King Faysal.- 9. The top-secret Saudi plan to use the USSR to pressure the US.- PART IV: THE SURVIVAL OF THE SAUDI MONARCHY DURING THE CARTER ADMINSTRATION (1977-1981).- 10. Saudi concerns of the Marxist and Arab revolutionary threats (1977-1978).- 11. The 1978-1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran.- 12. Inspired by the Islamic Revolution: Rebellions, uprisings and coup attempts.- 13. Saudi, CIA messages to President Carter: A US policy-change towards the Saudis is necessary.- 14. Final Conclusions