ABSTRACT
The religious establishment played a pivotal role in granting and maintaining the political legitimacy of the ruling family in Saudi Arabia since 1744. This alliance was vital at times of regional and domestic instability, but also problematic for introducing change and social reform. For decades, religious figures and institutions influenced the construction of the Saudi national identity. However, the situation has changed since King Salman ascended to the throne in 2015, as the government has deliberately tried to curtail this influence. As a result, an identity that was once underpinned by religion has been replaced with hypernationalism as the foundation of political legitimacy.
