Reforming Saudi Arabia
Andrew Marr discusses Saudi Arabia with academic Madawi Al-Rasheed, economist Deirdre McCloskey, historian Ian Morris and former UK ambassador William Patey.
On Start the Week Andrew Marr looks at the fortunes of Saudi Arabia. The academic Madawi Al-Rasheed challenges pre-conceived ideas about divine politics and uncovers the religious leaders, intellectuals and activists who are looking at modernising the country. William Patey is the former UK ambassador in the region and argues that although the House of Saud is resilient, strains are starting to appear. The American economist Deirdre McCloskey sees fault lines elsewhere in the country's failure to promote and encourage innovation; she believes that although Saudi Arabia has capital accumulation and oil, without creativity and ideas it will not flourish. The historian Ian Morris takes the long view as he studies 20,000 years of international relations and argues that each age and region gets the great powers it needs, and what that means for Saudi Arabia.
Producer: Katy Hickman.
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Madawi Al-Rasheed
is Visiting Professor at the Middle East Centre at LSE and Research Fellow at the Open Society Foundation.
Muted Modernists: The Struggle over Divine Politics in Saudi Arabia is published by Hurst.
William Patey
Sir William Patey is a former UK Ambassador to Sudan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.
Williamβs article, βIs the House of Saud about to fall?β, is in the current issue of Prospect magazine.
Deirdre McCloskey
is an economist, historian and rhetorician.
Deirdre will be taking part in a discussion, βWaste: Β A New Political Ageβ, at the National Theatre on Wednesday 9 December.
The final book in her trilogy, The Bourgeois Era, will be published in April.
Ian Morris
is the Jean and Rebecca Willard Professor in Classics and Professor in History at Stanford University.
Ian will be delivering a , βEach Age Gets the Great Powers It Needs: 20,000 Years of International Relationsβ, at the LSE on Tuesday 8 December.
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Andrew Marr |
| Interviewed Guest | Madawi al-Rasheed |
| Interviewed Guest | Deirdre McCloskey |
| Interviewed Guest | Ian Morris |
| Interviewed Guest | William Patey |
| Producer | Katy Hickman |
Broadcasts
- Mon 7 Dec 2015 09:00ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Mon 7 Dec 2015 21:30ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
Podcast
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