Araks Pashayan
vol. VIII(1)
Pages 34-44
Abstract: In June 2017, King Salman of Saudi Arabia has appointed his
son Mohammed bin Salman (also known as MBS), as crown prince
replacing his nephew, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef1, as first in line to
the throne. King Salman bin ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, a son of King ‘Abd al-‘Aziz
Аl Saud the founder of Saudi Arabia, acceded to the throne in January
2015 after the death of his half-brother Abdullah bin ‘Abd al-‘Aziz.
Mohammed bin Salman is currently serving as the country's deputy
prime minister (the title of prime minister being held by the King) and
is also chairman of the Council for economic and development affairs,
chairman of the Council of political and security affairs, and minister of
defence. In 2016 Mohammed bin Salman set out a possibly overambitious
development plan "Saudi Vision 2030". Bin Salman’s
progressive advancement was suggesting that the matter of succession
in Saudi Arabia was already resolved, and that King Salman intends to
surmount the possible royal intrigues and fierce competition to make his
son King of Saudi Arabia. Prince Mohammed bin Salman could,
potentially, lead Saudi Arabia for decades.
Keywords: Saudi Arabia, reforms, moderate Islam, Iran, Shi’ism,
Wahhabism, ultra conservatism, religious fundamentalism, human
rights
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