Saudi Arabia Uncovered

Saudi Arabia is a "kingdom at a crossroads." For decades, the oil-rich nation has been ruled by the ultra-conservative royal House of Saud under the strict system known as Sharia law. Now, however, a crash in oil prices has exposed generational and religious divisions, and led to widespread poverty. Filmmaker James Jones's PBS-aired Frontline documentary takes viewers on an undercover tour of today's Saudi Arabia, using concealed cameras operated by Saudi dissidents (critics whose voices and identities are distorted and cloaked, as they would pay a steep price if discovered). Public floggings are common, as are more severe punishments such as stoning and execution. Religious police have been known to pull patrons out of cafés, forcing them to attend prayer services. Although the royal family makes half-hearted attempts to rein in these zealots, the abuses continue. Great inequality of wealth stresses Saudi society, and its rulers feel threatened by archenemy Iran, as well as the demands for reform that surfaced in the wake of the Arab Spring. Above all, Saudi rulers want stability, and conservative religious schools have been formed as a means of control. Unfortunately, anti-Western, anti-Semitic rhetoric has also encouraged fanaticism and terror (a majority of the 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia) in a nation where even bloggers and female automobile drivers are perceived as a threat. Although the West's need for Saudi oil has diminished, the country is a necessary, if also repressive, ally within an increasingly violent and chaotic Middle East. No easy solutions are in sight, and controversies about the pace of change and the role of women will likely continue to dominate the country's future. Offering a solid overview of contemporary Saudi Arabia, this is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)