Between Tradition and Ambition

The book Between Tradition and Ambition: Saudi Arabia's Strategic Evolution 2000-2025 offers a comprehensive analysis of how Saudi Arabia has transformed its domestic and international identity over the past quarter century. It traces the Kingdom's historical foundations beginning with the Wahhabi-Al Saud alliance and the emergence of oil as a pillar of power before examining how Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 redefined governance through centralization and authoritarian modernization. The volume investigates the interplay of religion nationalism and economic reform showing how Saudi rulers balance religious legitimacy with modernization narratives. It also explores Riyadh's evolving foreign policy-its rivalry with Iran cautious engagement with Israel intervention in Yemen and strategic hedging between the United States China and Russia. By analyzing security strategies energy politics and soft power the book demonstrates how Saudi Arabia navigates contradictions between tradition and reform ultimately assessing its regional role and strategic outlook in 2025.