Opinion
Cars drive past the King Abdullah Financial District, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 12, 2017. Photo: Reuters / Faisal Al Nasser.
The contours of public engagement in Saudi Arabia are evident in the contrast between passionate debates over issues such as a proposal to
remove the sword from the Saudi flag and discussions of what constitutes Muslim holy land and the status of Jerusalem as Islam’s third-holiest city, versus far more cautious social media responses to changes in US policy as the Biden administration settles into office.
The debates suggest that Crown Prince Mohammed (MBS)’s efforts to shift the Saudi identity from religious to nationalist remain a work in progress. Like the UAE, Saudi Arabia has emphasized its desire to end the six-year-old conflict in Yemen in response to President Joe Biden’s halt of sales of arms that would be used in offensive operations in that war-ravaged country. And the kingdom has been largely silent about the
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Modern Diplomacy
Published 2 months ago
Saudi Arabia’s combustible mix of religion, nationalism, and tradition as well as contradictions in the kingdom’s projection of itself as a driver of moderate Islam and major voice in combatting discrimination and racism spark heated debate on social media.
How the mix plays out will ultimately spotlight the outcome of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts to inject a significant dose of nationalism in a Saudi identity that historically has been heavily shaped by religion.
The contours of public engagement are evident in the contrast between passionate debates over issues such as a proposal to remove the sword from the Saudi flag and discussions of what constitutes Muslim holy land and the status of Jerusalem as Islam’s third-holiest city as opposed to far more cautious social media responses to changes in US policy as the Biden administration settles into office.