Family Dynamics and Succession Contenders in the Saudi Royal Family

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This chapter explores the complex family dynamics of King Abdulaziz and his sons, discussing the factors determining their positioning within the royal family. It highlights the backgrounds of key figures like Prince Talal and Faizal bin Abdulaziz, focusing on their lineage and roles in Saudi history. The chapter also delves into the generational dynamics among young Saudi princes in the 1950s, their reformist tendencies, and the contrasting views on political and economic visions within the royal family.

Featuring Abdel Razzaq Takriti, this is the TWELFTH episode of Thawra (Revolution), our mini-series on Arab radicalism in the 20th century. Today’s installment tells the story of Saudi Arabia, a country whose reactionary, US-aligned trajectory was throughout the 1950s and 60s challenged by labor strikes, dissident currents, rebellious princes, and an anticolonial oil minister. But Saudi royal conservatism asserted itself and a friendship with Nasser’s Egypt turned into conflict. Ultimately both countries got drawn into North Yemen’s civil war, which sapped Egypt’s military strength ahead of the 1967 war with Israel. Plus: radical politics against British colonial power in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the Trucial States. Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig Check out our newsletter and vast archives at thedigradio.com Buy tickets for live Dig with Jeremy Corbyn in London: unionchapel.org.uk/venue/whats-on/versothe-dig-live-podcast-with-jeremy-corbyn-laleh-khalili Buy Twilight Prisoners at haymarketbooks.com Buy Automatic Fetish at versobooks.com