The ascension in June of Muhammed bin Salman as crown prince of Saudi Arabia was an instant Rorschach test for observers of the desert kingdom. Saudi Arabia was the cradle of jihadism so its stability is a global concern. In domestic terms, Saudi Arabia is a mess. In response the crown prince instigated a Thatcherite programme of privatisation and subsidy cuts to balance the books. On the world stage, Saudi Arabia has been forced on the back foot by events and its own incompetence.

Source: The Guardian September 18, 2017 18:22 UTC