'Clear-eyed and illuminating.' Henry Kissinger former Secretary of State and National Security
Advisor 'A rich superbly researched balanced history of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.'
General David Petraeus former Commander U.S. Central Command and Director of the Central
Intelligence Agency 'Destined to be the best single volume on the Kingdom.' Ambassador Chas
Freeman former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Assistant Secretary of Defense 'Should be
prescribed reading for a new generation of political leaders.' Sir Richard Dearlove former
Chief of H.M. Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and Master of Pembroke College Cambridge.
Something extraordinary is happening in Saudi Arabia. A traditional tribal society once known
for its lack of tolerance is rapidly implementing significant economic and social reforms. An
army of foreign consultants is rewriting the social contract King Salman has cracked down hard
on corruption and his dynamic though inexperienced son the Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman
is promoting a more tolerant Islam. But is all this a new vision for Saudi Arabia or merely a
mirage likely to dissolve into Iranian-style revolution? David Rundell - one of America's
foremost experts on Saudi Arabia - explains how the country has been stable for so long why it
is less so today and what is most likely to happen in the future. The book is based on the
author's close contacts and intimate knowledge of the country where he spent 15 years living
and working as a diplomat. Vision or Mirage demystifies one of the most powerful but least
understood states in the Middle East and is essential reading for anyone interested in the
power dynamics and politics of the Arab World.
