Between Tradition and Ambition: Saudi Arabia's Strategic Evolution, 2000-2025

The book Between Tradition and Ambition: Saudi Arabia's Strategic Evolution, 20002025 offers a comprehensive analysis of how Saudi Arabia has transformed its domestic and international identity over the past quarter century. It traces the Kingdom's historical foundations, beginning with the WahhabiAl Saud alliance and the emergence of oil as a pillar of power, before examining how Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 redefined governance through centralization and authoritarian modernization. The volume investigates the interplay of religion, nationalism, and economic reform, showing how Saudi rulers balance religious legitimacy with modernization narratives. It also explores Riyadh's evolving foreign policyits rivalry with Iran, cautious engagement with Israel, intervention in Yemen, and strategic hedging between the United States, China, and Russia. By analyzing security strategies, energy politics, and soft power, the book demonstrates how Saudi Arabia navigates contradictions between tradition and reform, ultimately assessing its regional role and strategic outlook in 2025.

Readers should engage with this book because it offers a rare, theoretically grounded yet accessible analysis of Saudi Arabia's transformation at the intersection of tradition, religion, and modernization. It unpacks domestic power shifts, foreign policy recalibrations, and economic contradictions, providing critical insights into the Kingdom's strategic logic and its global implications.