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January 30, 2015

The Saudi Monarchy as a Family Firm

The family, like many a successful political party (or mafia),

has a very hierarchical culture (deference to older members is strictly enforced), effective private dispute-resolution mechanisms (including special jails for misbehaving princes, apparently), and fora where princes are expected to speak candidly and honestly about what they learn from their contacts with non-royals (princes who develop reputations as liars are not likely to go very far). And in return for lifetime submission and service, all royals receive an allowance and a state job, calibrated to their seniority and political importance, from the enormous oil revenues the Saudi state produces. (Firm figures are hard to find, for obvious reasons, but Herb cites estimates that suggest that at the height of the oil boom, in the 1970s, the al Sauds received at least 12% of all government revenue - an utterly fantastic sum).
Abandoned Footnotes:

Posted by gerardvanderleun at January 30, 2015 10:30 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.

Your Say

Biggest mistake the developed world ever made was giving those countries ownership of that oil technology, or honoring their "nationalization" of it. We all could have kept ownership if we had played our cards right and given them a small piece of the action. I think that was the first liberal "triumph"; can't think of an earlier one.

Posted by: BillH [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 30, 2015 2:40 PM

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