ABSTRACT
This essay seeks to explain Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud’s dramatic rise to power over the past five years. It explores the increasingly autocratic-authoritarian nature of his nascent rule. In particular, this chapter assesses his perceived loyalty-boosting measures, including promises of substantial economic reform and greater social liberalization. It also investigates his apparent support from both a powerful neighboring state (the United Arab Emirates) and the Trump administration in the US. MBS’s methods are then scrutinized, including his tightening of circles of patronage, his “anti-corruption” crackdowns, the centralization of command over military and security organizations, and the co-option or repression of all forms of local and social media. Finally, in the context of Saudi Arabia’s relatively impressive socioeconomic indicators and its status as one of the world’s surviving monarchies, the chapter considers the impact of MBS’s important changes to Saudi statecraft and authority structures on a number of debates relating to the future of autocracy and authoritarianism.
