Refounding the Kingdom: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Transformation of Modern Saudi Arab

Join the Commonwealth Club World Affairs Peninsula Chapter and the Los Altos Library as the Hoover Institution's Dr. Cole Bunzel discusses Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's role in Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation as it evolves and implements broader reforms, while distancing itself from its militant Wahhabism roots. Since the rise to power of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) beginning in 2015, Saudi Arabia has undergone monumental changes in politics, economics, and society. This lecture examines the figure of MBS and some of the changes he has implemented, in particular as regards Saudi Arabia's identity as a conservative Islamic state associated with the controversial Islamic movement known as Wahhabism. The kingdom, as will be seen, no longer appeals to its Wahhabi past—and in fact is changing its history in service of its new image and identity. Dr. Cole Bunzel is a scholar at the Hoover Institution, and has been a Hoover Fellow since 2019. He is a historian and an expert on the contemporary Middle East, specializing in the history of Arabian Peninsula, Islamic theology and law, and modern Islamic radicalism. * This program is free and pre-registration is not required. However, the maximum capacity is 100, so arrive early to ensure a seat. Doors open at 6:30 PM and the program runs from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask.

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