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Addresses the internal stability of the current governing regime in Saudi Arabia & whether the national identity espoused by the House of Saud will ultimately lead to its downfall. Patrick Clawson identifies three factors that contribute to the House of Saud's political stability, offers several reasons to support the contention that the current Saudi regime will remain in power, & stipulates conditions that may engender a regime change. It is stressed that future research must dedicate critical attention to the Saudi regime's ability to balance religious conservatism with economic reform is discussed. Eleanor Abdella Doumato addresses the incorporation of Wahhabi Islam into the national education system & considers the potential implications of the present Saudi regime's adoption of Wahhabi Islam as a national identity. Questions concerning whether the substantial increase of information outlets in Saudi Arabia will damage the House of Saud's rule are also raised. F. Gregory Gause criticizes relevant literature for overlooking the importance that Saudi Arabia's role as a major oil producer & international relations play in the current regime's maintenance of political stability; however, it is stressed that tribal connections partially contribute to the House of Saud's ongoing possession of political power. It is claimed that US foreign policy should perceive Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner & should avoid pushing for democratic reform in the nation since democratization may provide extremist Islamic parties the opportunity to dominate Saudi society. David E. Long maintains that the House of Saud is heavily reliant on kinship & tribal connections & relations with Islamic leaders in perpetuating its rule. Nevertheless, several difficulties facing the current Saudi regime are identified, eg, the increasing longevity rate coupled with an increasing unemployment rate. Also scrutinizes is the influence of the middle class on the preservation of the traditional class hierarchy & of the educational system's inclusion of Islamic-oriented curricula upon Saudi society. Kevin Taecker highlights multiple domestic & economic problems that may threaten the current regime's political stability; nonetheless, the nation's pursuit of membership in the World Trade Organization, potential reduction of anti-US sentiment, & establishment of stronger economic relations with the US could overcome these sundry difficulties. Multiple recommendations for strengthening the US's foreign relations with Saudi Arabia are also suggested, eg, helping Saudi Arabia reconfiguring its national economic policies to conform to those of international economic & fiscal organizations. J. W. Parker

When protests started spreading throughout the Arab world in January 2011, numerous observers argued that Saudi Arabia's turn would soon come. There was some truth to those expectations, as February and early March 2011 witnessed an unusual degree of protest activity by the Kingdom's standards. And yet, by mid-March, the regime had regained complete control of the situation. Who were the activists who challenged the regime and what did they want? And how did the regime manage to silence their protests? Does this episode mean that revolution is impossible in Saudi Arabia? Adapted from the source document.

It would be unwise to bet against the Saudi monarchy, based on its track record of staying in power. But the odds are getting shorter.