Before technopolitics: approaching the liminal character of Ibn Sa'ud's reign

• Gonzalez Fernandez, Borja W. ^[1]
  1. [1] Necmettin Erbakan University

     Necmettin Erbakan University

     Turquía

     
• Localización: Revista de Estudios Internacionales Mediterráneos ( REIM ), ISSN-e 1887-4460, Nº. 38, 2025, págs. 31-55
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.15366/reim2025.38.002
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Antes de la tecnopolítica: una aproximación al carácter liminal del reinado de Ibn Sa‘ud
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen
  • español

    Habitualmente caracterizado como ejemplo de tradicionalismo, el rey ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Al Sa‘ud constituye una figura poco estudiada en la historia política de Oriente Medio. En oposición a tales perspectivas, este artículo arguye que Ibn Sa‘ud jugó un papel fundamental en la construcción de la modernidad saudí. Así, su reinado puede identificarse como una fase liminal, a medio camino entre el estado patriarcal de sus predecesores y las estructuras tecnopolíticas de sus herederos. Este estudio también subraya que estas transformaciones precedieron la llegada de los ingresos petrolíferos y están directamente ligadas a la consolidación del proyecto político bi-epocal del monarca.

  • English

    Despite his often being maligned as a symbol of traditionalism, King ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Al Sa‘ud, remains an under-researched figure in Middle Eastern political history. This paper argues that, contrary to such perceptions, he was instrumental in setting the foundations of Saudi modernity. Indeed, his reign can be identified as a liminal phase, bridging the gap between the patriarchal state of his forefathers and the technopolitical structures consolidated by his successors. This study also highlights how these transformations predated the arrival of hydrocarbon-generated income and were directly linked to the consolidation of the king’s bi-epochal political project.

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